In 1492 Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain with a tiny fleet of three ships. The purpose of his voyage was to find a shorter and less dangerous way to Asia. Columbus died without realizing that his voyage would forever change the world. This year marks the 500th anniversary of that famous journey and numerous events are planned to commemorate the "Columbus Quincentennial."

The story of Christopher Columbus is as full of unknown things as was the great ocean he crossed. Winston Churchill has been quoted as having said of Columbus that, "He is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." It is believed he was born in 1451. There is also confusion as to where he was born, but most evidence suggests he was born near Genoa, Italy. Though no authentic portrait of Columbus exists, many artists have attempted to portray him from a description given by one of his sons.

Much of Columbus' youth was spent at his father's trade as a weaver, but by the time he reached his early 20's, Columbus had considerable experience at oceangoing seamanship.

Merchants from Europe who traded in China, India, and the Spice Islands had to follow dangerous routes to go to buy silks, spices, and other goods. They always faced the danger of being attacked by robbers or pirates. Columbus devised a plan that he felt would save thousands of miles. Knowing that the world was round, as all educated people realized at that time, he figured that by sailing west from the Canary Islands he could reach Asia. In those days, it was thought that Europe, Africa and Asia were the whole earth.

Feeling that he had been divinely selected for a mission he called "The Enterprise of the Indies," Columbus presented his plan to several countries, only to be refused aid. After several years, Spain finally agreed to supply Columbus with ships and pay his crew of 90 men. Columbus' fleet consisted of three ships—the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria—the latter being the flagship. The ships were not very large, but were adequate to endure long, ocean voyages.

The tiny fleet sailed from Palos, Spain into the Atlantic on Friday, August 3, 1492 and headed for the Canary Islands for supplies. On September 6, the westward voyage began. It was an uneventful voyage weatherwise, but Columbus had to quell a near mutiny by his frightened and superstitious crew. On October 11, leaves were spotted floating in the ocean and there was a smell of soil in the air. The next day the sailors saw a green tropical island. Columbus named it San Salvador (Holy Saviour). Today we know that he landed on an island of the Bahamas off the coast of Florida.

Columbus was not the first European to land in the Americas, but his achievement is distinguished from earlier adventures in that he discovered the best way to make use of the North Atlantic wind system for transatlantic sailing and his discoveries in the West Indies were followed by rapid, widespread and permanent settlements. In this sense it may be said that Columbus discovered America. The achievement of Columbus' first voyage in 1492 was to open a route to the New World that could be sailed over and over again.

Columbus made three more voyages across the Atlantic before his death in May 1506. He died not knowing he had discovered a new world. It was not until about 25 years later when Ferdinand Magellan made the first voyage all the way around the world that it became known that Columbus had opened up a new world four times as large as Europe.

There are those who wish to find fault with Christopher Columbus' character and impute motives of greed and selfishness as a reason for his voyages. They would also label Columbus as an "intruder" rather than a "discoverer" and blame him for the death of many of the natives from diseases contracted from those who settled in the New World. Regardless of this, Columbus opened up a "NEW WAY" and a new life for those who followed.

One has said about Columbus, "He was born at precisely the right place and grew to manhood learning precisely the right things at a time when the West discovered it must risk or wither, grow or die." Similar words are found in Scripture concerning the Lord Jesus—"When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His son … to redeem them that were under the law" (Gal. 4:4). Many centuries before Columbus was born, man proved that he was a hopeless sinner and the need for a Saviour was evident. In His love for mankind, God devised a NEW WAY that involved sending His Son to earth to die as a sacrifice to atone for the sin of the world—"The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (1 John 4:14). After a perfect life of service and obedience to His Father's will, a life in which He was misunderstood, His motives were misjudged and His authority questioned, He suffered the death of the cross because of our sins. To benefit from this, we must personally repent of our sins to God, and by faith accept the Lord Jesus as the One who died for them, was buried and rose again (1 Cor. 15:1-4). By doing this, we receive eternal life.

The journey that Columbus took five hundred years ago meant a temporary home for millions since that time. The journey that the Lord Jesus took from heaven to the cross of Calvary means a life with Him that will never end for every believer. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

We are all on a journey heading for eternity. The choice we make in this life will determine our destination. To refuse the way of salvation provided by the Lord Jesus means to perish forever in hell. To accept Christ as our personal Saviour means a destination of heaven and an eternity with Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a NEW AND LIVING WAY, which He hath consecrated for us" (Hebrews 10:19,20). Take that step of faith today which will land you on that "beautiful shore" when your life on this earth comes to an end. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is "THE WAY" (John 14:6), as your Saviour.

—M.S.J.

"I am a most unworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvelous presence." —Christopher Columbus