The word “pioneer” comes from an old French word, peon, meaning foot soldier. Pioneers were the first to venture into unknown or forgotten territory. Africans captured a similar idea in a word roughly translated “dew-drier.” In Africa, thick vegetation often grows over the paths. In the mornings, heavy dew covers the plants, making morning treks difficult. Hunting parties forced young boys to walk through the wet grass, knocking off the dew and drying it for those who followed. In the dawn’s darkness, lions and other predators would lurk in the weeds waiting for the dew-driers to stumble upon them.
Seeking to know and uphold the truth
In every generation of the church, there are dew-driers seeking to know and uphold the truth of God. Many times, most Christians linger behind, content with the status quo, waiting for the spiritual peons to be criticized, marked, and persecuted.
These dew-driers are not looking for glory, but only want to serve God as best they can and accomplish His work. They are scorned and hated for rocking the boat, upsetting the apple cart, or suggesting the church can still grow. Often, they are impugned by brethren unwilling to use the word of God for “teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16). After all, in the critic’s mind, the church has already been restored and has nothing new to learn.
Pioneer have courage and conviction
Pioneers have the courage and conviction to grow, discover, challenge, and do what is right and needful no matter what others may say. In Revelation 2:10, John called disciples to be faithful even if it causes death. These pioneering Christians blaze a trail of truth in an environment overgrown with neglect, fear, tradition, and laziness. They follow Jesus’ example of blazing the trail as the “captain of our salvation” (Heb 2:10).
Let’s set our hearts to seek God’s will afresh and not simply through accepted traditions.
Preaching Minister