A few summers ago, we went down to Saint Augustine, Florida to visit my mother and father in law, Bruce and Vicki Stefanik, who are ministers with the Salvation Army. In this particular visit, we took the time to go see the old Spanish fort, Castillo de San Marcos. As we were there touring the place, we were able to watch a group of reenactors stage a battery firing by the order. For those of you not familiar, it was a Spanish method of assuring that the cannon did not misfire or explode.
This innovation involved a member of the clergy praying over the cannon, a member of the crew sweeping the barrel, followed by another brief prayer, then the crew loading the gunpowder and reciting scripture (in Spanish), followed by another prayer, then the packing of the cannonball and wadding, followed by a prayer for the sovereign, then the command to fire. The entire event took about five to seven minutes before the whole process to repeat itself. Although today it sounds odd that anyone would pray for a cannon – a weapon of war – the process actually solved a critical problem: how to prevent the cannon from suffering a catastrophic and deadly misfire.
The rest of the tour of the fort highlighted the various earthworks, strong houses, and gates of the fort. Each fortification had a purpose and when properly manned, would have been extremely efficient as a defensive post in its day. A lot of planning and preparation went into the design and the eventual operation of the fort. That fort was intentionally designed to provide a protective shielding to all that were inside while offering the best possible offensive position available to the troops inside defending it. I often wonder what would happen if Christians would spend as much time fortifying their families against the attacks of Satan and his legions of devils.
Within the writings of the apostle Peter, he instructs Christians, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:13). Just as making the plans for the earthly defenses at the Spanish fortification were done by a man with a sober mind, able to see the possible weaknesses and strengths of any fortification built at that location, we must also strive to have a sober mind and able to see the strengths and weaknesses of our homes. We must be aware that television shows, music, movies, newspapers, magazines, and even those we invite into our houses. We are now living in a time where the cause of Christ is under continual attack by the mainstream media, schools, politicians, and special interest groups.
The apostle Peter also wrote to the early church that they needed to Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). Yes, Peter is talking about each individual Christian needs to be on alert, but each Christian also must be alert for the others in their family and in their church. Consider the spiritual implications when this passage written by Ezekiel is added to the mix: Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me (Ezekiel 33:2-7). As a Christian, I have an obligation to be watchful for my family and for those that I attend church and worship with.
