God has no grandchildren. Each generation must hear and decide for themselves what they will believe. But how will they hear if we don’t do our job?

Key Text: Judges 2:7-11, Deut. 6:4-12

Steps to demonstrating the goodness of God to the next generation of Canadians:

STEP 1 – Have a love for God and His words in your heart. Deut. 6:5-6

STEP 2 – Water the roots.

• Learn and understand your Biblical and Canadian roots.
• Solomon, Stephen, Paul and others in the Bible all could tell of the faith of their fathers and the miracles they experienced.
• Don’t let this generation forget the Christian history of Canada.
• Understand God has not forgotten the prayers of our forefathers. Rev. 5:8, Deut. 7:9

STEP 3 – Pass it on to your children. Deut. 6:7, Judges 2:10, Psa. 22:30, 78:4, 79:13, 102:18, 145:4

• This means choosing to spend time with them.
• R. Schuller: “I chose to fail at golf, because I wanted to succeed as a father.”
• This means having a conversation about:
  
  • Who God is.
  • What He did in the previous generation.
    
• This means modeling it.

STEP 4 – Get involved.

• This is not all about you, do it for the next generation!
• Your business is your ‘pulpit.’
• Your apartment/neighbourhood is your chance to influence.
• Let your name stand for the various boards.

What will you do for the next generation ______________?

Prov. 22:28 Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set.

LANDMARKS SET BY THE FATHERS OF CANADA

Biblical References on the Centre Block of the Canadian Parliament buildings as compiled by Audrey Dubé, Curatorial Services, House of Commons. (rev. 2004) Forwarded by Monique Carnell, Assistant Curator House of Commons.

1. Peace Tower. Exterior
   
   East window: He shall have dominion also from sea to sea. Psalm 72:8
   South window: Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. Psalm 72:1
   West window: Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18
   
   Initiated by architect John A. Pearson, 1921.
   
   
2. Peace Tower. Belfry
   
   Largest bell, no. 53: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men. Luke 2:14
   Initiated by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, 1926.
   
   
3. Peace Tower. Memorial Chamber
   
   
   • Display case, main altar
     
     Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13
     
     To accompany this verse, tiny enamels with Latin inscriptions illustrate the full armour of God: Ephesians 6:14-17
     
     Veritas: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth (v. 14);
     
     Justitia:and having on the breastplate of righteousness (v. 14);
     
     Pax: and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (v. 15);
     
     Fides: above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (v. 16);
     
     Salus: And take the helmet of salvation (v. 17);
     
     Spiritus: and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (v. 17)
     
     Initiated by architect John A. Pearson, 1925.
     
     
4. Stained glass windows
   
   
   • East window, “The Call to Arms”:
     
     Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory. 1 Corinthians 15:57
     Acquit ye like men be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
     Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle. Psalm 18:40; 2 Samuel 22:40
   
   
   
   • West Window, “The Dawn of Peace”:
     
     He maketh wars to cease. Psalm 46:10
     Judgement shall return unto righteousness. Psalm 94:15
     Initiated by architect John A. Pearson and designer Frank S. J. Hollister, 1926
     
     
5. Marble panels, south wall:
   
   If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I lay down in the bowels of the earth, thou art there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right shall hold me. Psalm 139:8-10
   
   Initiated by the Special Committee on Bilingualism on Parliament Hill, 1981.



6. Confederation Hall
   
   Portrait head of Moses carved in stone symbolizing law.
   Initiated by William F. K. Oosterhoff, Parliamentary stone carver, circa 1952.
   
   
7. House of Commons Foyer
   
   
   • The four living creatures or beasts carved in stone: the man, the bull, the lion and the eagle. Ezekiel 1:10; Revelation 4:6-7
     Initiated by R. Eleanor Milne, Dominion sculptress, circa 1970.
     
     
8. House of Commons Chamber
   
   The exterior sides of the Speaker’s Chair feature seven Latin mottoes or citations on a ribbon twisted around a delicate vine. The last one reads “Laus Deo”.
   
   Initiated by the British House of Commons, circa 1849.
   
   
9. Cabinet Room
   
   Tympanums over doors:
   Love justice, you that are the rulers of the earth. Song of Solomon 1:1
   Source unknown, 1980
   
   
10. Opposition Board Room
    
    Tympanum over doors:
    Fear God; Honour the king. 1 Peter 2:17
    Initiated by architect John A. Pearson, 1919

Canada was fashioned by Christian leaders such as:

• Lief Ericsson (converted to Christ in Norway in 1003)
  • Came to Newfoundland in 1004.
  • An Inuit carving, found on Baffin Island, depicts a Norseman bearing a Christian cross, giving silent testimony to this man’s influence.
    
    
• John Cabot (unknown – 1498)
  • Landed on the shores of Newfoundland in 1497 claiming it “For God and for England.”
  • The motto on the Newfoundland and Labrador coat or arms is “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.”
    
    
• Jaques Cartier (1491 – 1557)
  • To commemorate the founding of Montreal the well known French explorer wrote in his diary: “We all kneeled down in the company of the Indians and with our hands raised toward heaven yielded our thanks to God.”
  • Cartier was known for sharing his faith in Jesus Christ and praying for the sick. He wrote “One would of thought Christ had come down to earth to heal them.”
    
    
• Samuel De Champlain (1567 – 1635)
  • French explorer and founder of Quebec City in 1608.
  • He was known for sharing with the First Nations the uncompromising Gospel.
    
    
• Jean De Brebeuf (1593 – 1649)
  • Canada’s first martyr.
    
    
• Jeanne Mance (1606 – 1673)
  • Founder of the first hospital in Montreal.
  • “There is nothing in the world I would refuse to do to accomplish the divine and all-loving will of God.”
    
    
• Paul de Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve (1612 – 1676)
  • He is known for planting the well-known cross on top of Mount Royal in Montreal. During the flood of 1642 he promised that he would carry a cross to the top of Mount Royal if God would hear their prayers and cause the flood to subside.
    
    
• Louis De Buade De Frontenac (1622 –1698)
  • Governor of Canada.
  • Declared to the First Assembly, “As for me, I shall esteem myself happy in consecrating all my efforts, and if need be, my life itself, to extending the Empire of Jesus Christ throughout all this land.”
    
    
• David Thompson (1770 – 1851)
  • Explorer and statesman who developed maps, many of which are still used today.
  • His reason for enduring much hardship as a explorer was “so that these physically impenetrable barriers may be traversed and the Gospel be spread.”
    
    
• Henry Bird Steinhauer (1818 – 1884)
  • First Nations, Ojibwa preacher
  • He set out to make the Bible relevant to the Cree and translated major portions of scripture.
    
    
• Robert T. Rundle (1811- 1896)
  • A missionary to Alberta that had Mount Rundle named after him. This mountain overlooks the town of Banff.
  • In his diary he writes; “This morning we discussed the resurrection of Jesus and this afternoon the nature of salvation. Tonight I wrote a verse for the first time in Cree.”
    
    
• George Brown (1818-1880)
  • Father of Confederation, founder of the Globe and Mail.
  • At his funeral it was said of him, “By his pure life and conversion he commended the religion of Christ. He was sustained … by his trust in God, and in the blood of the Redeemer.”
  • Throughout his life he maintained a reputation for incorruptibility and a strong belief that biblical morality should govern public life.
    
    
• Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley (1818 – 1896)
  • Premier of New Brunswick and Father of Confederation.
  • When the Fathers of Confederation met to discuss what the new united Canada should be called Tilley received from the Lord the idea to call it the Dominion of Canada after reading Psalm 72:8 in his morning devotions. Here it says “He shall have Dominion also from sea to sea.”
  • On his tombstone is was written ‘His trust was in Jesus.’
    
    
• John Robson (1824 – 1892)
  • Journalist, reformer, legislator, cabinet minister, premier of BC.
  • He was an advocate for public schools in BC. He believed that government must be involved in education to make it affordable for the people and that the bible should be used in classes, the Lord’s prayer recited and moral training be based on Christianity.
    
    
• Egerton Ryerson (1803 – 1882)
  • The Father of Canadian Public Education
  • He believed his primary task was “to make men Christians – Christians in heart and life, temper, word and work.” He clearly said that the Ontario school system was to be a Christian public school system.
  • NOTE: Many of our great Canadian universities where founded by the church. (Dalhouse University, Queens University, McMaster University to name a few.)
    
    
• Louis Riel (1844 – 1885)
  • Founder of Manitoba
  • From his diary; “Fasting and prayer are the two keys to success in time and eternity… Nothing can resist fasting when it is done with humility, sincerity and devotion. Three or four days of fasting can accomplish more than an army on the field of battle….God has everything in His care. Have confidence in Jesus Christ….Lord Jesus, I love you. I love everything associated with you.”
    
    
• Oliver Mowat (1820 – 1903)
  • Father of Confederation, Judge, Premier of Ontario.
  • As a youth he studied Christianity and came to the conclusion that it was no cunningly devised fable, but was truth.
    
    
• Timothy Eaton (1834 – 1907)
  • Founder of the Eatons retail empire.
  • He had three main principle interests in life: his church, his family and his store. Eaton was revered for his inflexible integrity. He mandated that in all advertisements “the exact truth should be told with regard to the goods offered for sale.” Eaton gave large sums of money to help build churches and Christian colleges, something that his wife continued to do even after his death.
    
    
• Robert Stanley Weir (1856 – 1926)
  • Judge and author of English words to O Canada.
    
    The deleted final verse of the original O Canada:
    
    “Ruler Supreme
    Who hearest humble prayer,
    Hold our Dominion
    In Thy loving care.
    Help us to find O God, in Thee,
    A lasting rich reward,
    As waiting for a Better Day
    We ever stand on guard.
    Canada, glorious and free!
    We stand on guard for Thee!”
    
    
• Nellie McClung (1873 – 1951)
  • Author, political activist.
  • “Christ was a true democrat. He made no distinction between men and women.”
    
    
• Agnes Macphail (1890 – 1954)
  • Canada’s first female member of Parliament.
  • “No one person built the church, but each had its part in something more than the sum of them all…A person who has no bigger idea of himself is almost certain to be a deeply unhappy person.”
    
    
• George Vanier (1888 – 1967)
  • Governor General from 1959 to 1967.
  • “Let us first seek faith, faith in God above everything, faith in Christ and in His church; and loyalty to our religious, moral and cultural heritage.”
    
    
• John Diefenbaker (1895 – 1979)
  • Prime Minister of Canada.
  • When introducing the Canadian Bill of Rights he stated: “It begins with the Parliament of Canada affirming that the Canadian Nation is founded upon principles that acknowledge the Supremacy of God.”

  
  Sources:

  • Canada Portraits of Faith by Michael Clarke
  • Stand On Guard by Faytene C. Kryskow
  • Various internet sites.