Transportation
by Rit NosotroChange Over Time essay
Describe the importance of transportation over time.
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Thesis:
Transportation has been developed from its’ first rudimentary form, and has helped God’s servants spread his word.
Summary:
Transportation has occurred ever since man was created: first, by foot; second, the wheel, and third by the boat. Each of these basic modes of transportation, paired with man’s vivid imagination has developed into numerous helpful inventions including the steamship, submarine, bicycle, and car. All of these creations, plus the invention of the airplane, have helped God’s servants spread his word. Planes have been used to transport much needed food and supplies to countries overseas; horses were used in the very dangerous Circuit riders, in order for a preacher to get to the churches in his circuit and to start new ones. Unfortunately, these inventions have been used in cruel ways as well as productive. Planes were used in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center; cars are used as car bombs, and can be deadly in the hands of a drunk driver.
There are a handful of enterprises throughout human history that have profoundly affected history. First, what’s something everyone has that’s used heavily every day, is rarely rested, and keeps on going? Our feet. Back on the 6th Day of Creation, God made Man. When He made man, He gave him two feet. From day 1, walking has been the most essential and overlooked mode of transportation. Men have been doing it since day one, and will keep doing it until Jesus returns, pure and simple. The next basic tool of transportation is the wheel. Who invented it, no one knows; but the oldest one was found in a dig in the Mesopotamian region. It is believed to be more than 55,000 years old. Next is the boat, which made its’ debut as Noah’s Ark (Gen. 6-9). Later, cave drawings with boats were discovered in Egypt c. 6000 B.C. The invention of the boat led to submarines (1620), steamships (1769), hovercrafts (1956), clipper ships (1830-1860), etc. But man didn’t always get around by means of inanimate objects: the domestication of the horse, c. 2000 B.C., was man’s most successful and rewarding enterprise with animals. The horse has no equal for dog-like affection and hardy stamina, as well as intimidating size and speed. Even today, the most advanced army in the world (U.S.A.) still uses them. Another impressive enterprise is Leonardo Da Vinci’s flying machine drawings (c. 1492). Several hundred years before their time, these drawings inspired planes (the Wright brothers, 1903), supersonic jets (1947), jumbo jets (1970), rockets (1926) and space shuttles (1981). Last but not least is the greatest, most universal mode of travel: Henry Ford’s automobile (1908). Cars have drastically changed the way America, and the rest of the world, gets around. Landscapes, government rules, motor skills, etc. have all changed to meet the demands of the Ford and its descendants.
But how have those who committed themselves to God’s service make use of the basic inventions listed above? Well obviously, God’s servants walked everywhere. In the words of Rom 10:15, “how beautiful are the feet of those that bring good news.” Likewise, wheels have been used extensively by missionaries. From the instance of a Jesuit missionary in China who built a steam turbine powered cart in 1670 to any 16 year old Christian who drives to volunteer at a Christian mission on the weekend, wheels have been useful to God’s servants. Horses were another great asset and achievement in the history of human transportation. Once they were domesticated, they were used everywhere: in battle, traveling, racing, etc. The most well known use of the horse by God’s servants is the Circuit Riders of the American pioneer days. This job was as perilous as the pony express, but in the long run, much more rewarding. Begun by a Methodist Bishop, each preacher was given a circuit, which contained two or more churches. He was to visit each church on his circuit, and start some new ones while he was at it. The rides between churches could be nightmarish: if the weather and elements didn’t get you, the angry unbelievers would. Most circuit-riding preachers died by age 30.
Planes are ironic. While they have greatly assisted good causes, they have also greatly damaged them. On September 11th, 2001, chills ran down spines and many were shocked beyond words as two planes hit and destroyed the Twin Towers. Even so, planes have also done a great deal of good since first invented by the Christian Wright brothers (See how important the Christian Right is?). Planes carry Christian youth groups overseas to countries that greatly need God’s Word. They carry much needed supplies from Christian organizations to destitute places around the world. In 2001, for example, a husband and wife missionary team were kidnapped and held for a year by terrorists. They had lived with their children in the Philippines, where the husband flew a plane back and forth from the island to the U.S., transporting medical supplies and patients. Another transport, the automobile, has been helpful and dangerous. Helpful in that it’s a fast, handy way to get where you’re going, but dangerous in that a bad crash could kill you. Nevertheless, they are indispensable. Buses convey church groups. Jeeps transport mission trips. Christians giving nonbelievers a lift are able to share their life giving faith. Conversely, a car in the hands of a drunk may take life away.
Commentary:
Clearly, man has a formidable resume of innovations aimed to get him somewhere fast. But none of it would exist if it weren’t for our God-given creativity. In Gen 1:26, the Bible says “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” When He created us, He gave us our basic assembly kit of motion, depth perception, and above all, our creativity, the latter of which makes us superior to all other living beings. We, in turn, put those gifts to work by inventing a vast array of transportation, which can be used for God’s service to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. That’s the main reason why we should want to get from one place to another quickly. With the explosion of knowledge and transportation, it appears we are living in the last days as spoken of in Daniel 12:4, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
Quick Quiz:
1. What is the thing that is heavily used every day, is rarely rested, and
keeps on going?
a. Cars
b. Feet
c. Hands
d. Eyes
Answer: b
2. What was found in the Mesopotamian region?
a. The wheel
b. Pottery
c. A body
d. A lost city
Answer: a
3. Which animal was domesticated c. 2000 B.C.?
a. weasel
b. cow
c. horses
d. dogs
Answer: c
4. Who drew the plans for a flying machine?
a. Aristotle
b. Socrates
c. Plato
d. Leonardo Da Vinci
Answer: d
Bibliography:
1. King James Version. The Bible
2. The History of Transportation. <http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_history_of_transportation.htm> (March 28th, 2004) World History
3. Timeline of transportation technology – Wikipedia. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_transportation_technology> (March 28th, 2004) World History
4. Circuit Riders. < http://www.gcah.org/Circuit_Riders.html> (March 28th, 2004) World History
5. Pioneer History by Richard C. Schmal. <http://www.lowellpl.lib.in.us/s1996sep.htm> (March 28th, 2004) World History
6. The History of Transportation (different). http://mnmn.essortment.com/transportationh_rgly.htm (March 28th, 2004) World History
7. Kingfisher Books. The Kingfisher Illustrated History of the World. New York, New York. Grisewood & Dempsey Ltd.
8. Bernard Grun. The Timetables of History. New York, New York. Touchstone Simon & Schuster
9. BJU Press. United States History for Christian Schools, third edition. Greenville, South Carolina. BJU Press
10. Gracia Burnham. In the presence of my enemies. Wheaton, Illinois. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
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