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Did you know?

That Simon Kenton had a terrible temper?

That as a teen he nearly killed a man in a fight over a girl? Simon thought he had killed the man in the fight, so he fled and changed his name, fearing he’d hang for murder.

Later in his life, he had a brawl with a future president, Andrew Jackson, and nearly killed him.

Did you know that Simon Kenton was illiterate? Though he couldn’t read, he had an amazing memory for details of the rivers, trees, and valleys of his beloved Kentucky. He was often called to locate a property’s corner or give testimony in a land dispute.

Did you know that Simon Kenton was twice sentenced to die by Shawnee Indian councils? He escaped during one of his many runs through Shawnee gauntlets. (Double rows of Indians try to hit the runner with clubs.) He was later recaptured and again sentenced to die, but his friend Simon Girty intervened to save his life.

Did you know that Simon Kenton served in the militia under General “Mad Anthony” Wayne? Wayne’s army decisively defeated the Indians. This paved the way for the Treaty of Greeneville, which officially ended the Indian wars. Twelve different tribes signed the treaty.

Did you know that Simon Kenton feared to face God because of his many sins? Simon often attended Methodist Episcopal camp meetings with his wife. In 1808 he attended the one held on Buck Creek near Springfield, Ohio. He listened to the preaching with great interest and watched some of his relatives confess their sins, asking Jesus to save them.

Simon felt the weight of his own sins and knew he needed that same forgiveness which the others had received. He asked the preacher to walk in the woods with him so they could talk privately.

“I’ve killed many a man, both Indian and white, in my life. I’ve done many other wrongs, yet God has been merciful to me, sparing my life many a time.” As Simon continued to speak of his past sins, he asked the preacher, Bennett Maxey, a question each person should ask. “Is there any hope that God would forgive such a one as me?”

The answer is clear in God’s Book, easy to understand even for an unlettered backwoodsman. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He [God]hath made Him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

No deeds or works of ours can earn God’s forgiveness. He provides payment for our sins by the death of His own son, Jesus Christ. When we call on His name, God gives us freely the wonderful gift of eternal life.

Romans 10:9 explains, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Did you know that now is a good time to settle this eternal question in your own life? Hebrews 9:27 warns, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this, the judgment.”

Will you call on Him to save you today?

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