On Monday April 22, 1889 at noon and to the sound of a Calvary bugle, thousands upon thousands charged off to claim their piece of the Oklahoma Territory. They gathered on the starting line or on the state lines of Texas or Arkansas. They could claim up to 160 acres of land. They traveled either by horseback, wagon, oxcart or on foot. A special train came in from the north arriving at one p.m. and brought untold numbers. The train was so crowded that there was not enough room inside so people were clinging to the sides and hanging out the windows and even on the roof. When it stopped people fell all over the place and some even had to crawl out the windows. There was so much excitement because everyone had hopes of obtaining a piece of the promised land. It was theirs free, all they had to do was claim it and live on it. That event reminds me of something in the Bible. It talks a lot about a place that God would give us and it would be free. It would be there forever and forever, (2 Samuel 7:13 & 16, Revelation 11:15). It would never be destroyed or moved, (Hebrews 12:28). We are told to seek it first, above anything else, (Matthew 6:33). We receive it by repenting and trusting in Christ, (Matthew 3:2, 16:28, John 3:3). See you in Church next Sunday.