Making History

The author Circian writes:

“Nathan Hale was a young man who had every prospect for a happy and fulfilling life. He was very well educated for his day—a Yale graduate in an era when very few went to college. Although there are many contemporary accounts regarding his appearance and personality, no negative statements have been recorded; indeed, he was vividly remembered and admired by his acquaintances—longer than 60 years after his death. Accounts from classmates, friends, relatives, fellow soldiers, teachers, and students all carry the same general theme: that he was kind, gentle, religious, athletic, intelligent, good looking and as one contemporary testified, “the idol of all his acquaintances.”

In 1775, Hale accepted a commission as 1st lieutenant in the Connecticut Regiment and later served under Washington as the commander of a ranger company whose mission in the cause of Freedom was forward reconnaissance. One evening in September, 1776, Hale was captured as a spy. After making a “sensible and spirited speech” to those few who were there, the former schoolteacher and Yale graduate was executed by hanging—an extremely ignominious and horrible fate to one of his time and class. Upon his hanging, he spoke the words we all remember, “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”

Circian goes on to say:

“… An insignificant schoolteacher who never wrote anything important, never owned any property, never had a permanent job, never married or had children, never fought in a battle and who failed in his final mission—made history in the last few seconds of this life.

And there is a familiar ring in the story of Nathan Hale, an echo from 1743 years prior. Jesus, who was “the idol” of many…kind gentle, religious, who never personally wrote anything important, had no where to lay his head, never married or had children, who in the world’s eyes failed at his final mission—made history in the last few seconds of his life.

When we come to this table we remember the last moments of a dying man—“Christ Jesus, who died—more than that—who was raised to life— is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:34.

SOURCE: SermonCentral Staff. Citation: Circian. “A Time for Heroes—The Story of Nathan Hale. http