It was April of 1889, and an estimated 50,000 people gathered at the border of the “Unassigned Lands” of the Oklahoma Territory. At noon, sounds of pistols, bugles, and even a cannon at Ft. Reno sounded the official time when would-be homesteaders could cross the line to stake their claim. Historically, those who did not follow the rules but who sneaked across early came to be known as “Sooners” while those who followed the rules have typically been referred to as “Boomers”. For the next few years, hundreds of court cases resulted from contested land claims between those who crossed the line early and those who waited for the official opening of the land run.
The first case which went all the way to the Supreme Court was between Alexander F. Smith (an employee of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company) and Eddie B. Townsend, who had waited for the official start of the land run. The Supreme Court records state:
Alexander F. Smith had been for a long time prior to March 2, 1889, in the employ of the A. T. & S.F. R. Co. as a section hand, and on January 30, 1889, came to Edmond, Oklahoma Territory, in that capacity, bringing his family with him.
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Prior to April 22, 1889, Smith had indicated his intention to take the land in controversy by stating the fact to his fellow workmen, but had done no act towards carrying out said intention. A notice was posted at the station of Edmond by A. T. & S.F. R. Co., warning all employees that if they expected to take land, they must leave the Oklahoma country, and this fact was called to Smith’s notice.
Ultimately, the Court decided against Mr. Smith and in favor of Mr. Townsend, noting that since Smith did not follow the rules by leaving Oklahoma and entering with the thousands who came into the territory legally, he could not legitimately claim the land.
Good intentions are no substitute for following the rules. While that statement is easily understood (or should be) in cases such as this one from 1899, when it comes to following God’s Word, so many people throw common sense out the window. How often have you heard someone articulate the idea that as long as they are sincere in what they believe, God will accept them as they are. If such could be true, would not the Bible be unnecessary? If sincerity and good intentions were all that were needed to be pleasing to God, would there have been a need for Jesus to be crucified? While many in religious circles may argue that it is the death of Jesus that allows their sincerity and good intentions to be all that is needed, the Bible tells a drastically different story. Perhaps the best known statement from Jesus to counter the popular notion of the acceptability of good intentions is the following statement from the Sermon on the Mount.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21 NIV)
It’s an easily understood concept from which there should be no dissention. True love for God and for Christ will be seen in our constant desire to follow what God’s word requires of us. Jesus said “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15 NKJV) or, as the NIV words it – “If you love me, you will obey what I command”. Since God’s inspired word instructs us on how to become His child as well as how He wants us to live – to ignore His word is no different than Alexander Smith ignoring the details of the Oklahoma land run and forever forfeiting his claim.
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/148/490/