In ancient times, a wall with strong gates surrounded every city or town. Citizens installed watchtowers so the watchmen would see for great distances, observing the surroundings for enemies. Entrusted with the people’s well-being, the watchmen were committed to sound the warning of impending danger so people could flee to the security of the wall. If they were derelict in their duty, people would die or become captives to the intruders. Enemies with their own beliefs and customs would engulf the cities, changing everything.
Today, we do not have physical walls, but our nation has a Constitution written with an allegiance to the God who had blessed them. They did not set up a democracy, where the strongest rule. They wisely established us as a constitutional republic with strict boundaries as to what government can do. Uniquely, they saw the watchmen as ordinary citizens charged with the task of calling the alarm when danger approaches. However, a constitutional republic requires informed citizens. We elect representatives to enact laws, etc., but we have the responsibility to hold them accountable to us, including the President and the executive branch.
Alarms should be sounding all over this nation today. We have an insidious enemy, much like the Trojan horse in ancient times. Our enemies are destroying us from within because we have not sounded the alarm. Some of these enemies come clothed in persuasive words, offers of aid, and words we love to hear, but they come with strings attached. They also promote division to achieve their goals.
Our Constitution is not a perfect wall, but it has protected Americans for over two hundred years. It is unique in that it was bound by principles of Christianity. Freedom, liberty, justice, and mercy for all. Lately those who have filtered into every institution, local and state governments, and even churches have offered solutions outside the wall that shields us from tyranny and loss of freedom.
As Christians, we are “watchmen on the wall”. Ezekiel says in 3:20, that if we succumb to losing our liberty for a hand-out; in other words, don’t stand for righteousness, justice, and mercy, we will cause our nation to fall. We will no longer be unique in history, but just another crumbling empire.
Hosea 4:6 says God’s people face destruction for lack of knowledge. Because they have refused to listen or to warn others, and forgotten His laws, He will forget our children. This sober warning is what should propel us all to be watchmen, caretakers of the blessings God has given us in this nation. Our children, grand-children and later generations need our help to survive.
The Scarlet Thread Series 