One of the great engineering accomplishments of all time is the Great Wall of China. Building began during the warring states period (476 BC to 211 BC) and finished in the Ming dynasty 1644 AD (2000 years). It is composed of several sections which were built by different reining dynasties and connected to form one continuous barrier. The wall extends through about 5500 miles winding up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus. The wall most visited today was built during the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644). The purpose of the wall was to prevent marauders and military invasions by warlike peoples. The road on the top of the wall provided transportation for the army and commerce. The advantages of the wall diminished with the invention of gun powder and guns. Chinese history notes the building of the wall and records many wars and related events important to Chinese culture and folk lore. Men throughout the ages have built walls or dug water motes around castles to ward off enemy attackers. Though an attacker is walled out, the defender is walled in and must be prepared for a long battle with sufficient food, water, munitions and supplies. That barrier which thwarted entrance to the enemy also impeded the defender from escape and could be used to the advantage of an attacker who completely surrounded an opponent. It is pleasing to note that our God never fences us in to protect us. We are given freedom to decide for ourself to align our will with his will or to rebel. When we align our will with him and our ways please him, He hedges us about so that the devil and all his demons or wicked servants cannot harm us. (Note: The hedge of God prevents entrance of evil but enables us to come and go as we please. But why would we venture outside our impervious and eternal protection? That is what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. When they stepped outside of the hedge of the Word of God and out from under the irrefutable authority of the Most high God, they were bound up as captives of the serpent, and needed a savior/redeemer who is Jesus Christ.) Scripture says, “when a mans’ ways please the Lord, He causes even his enemies to be at peace with him”. In another passage God promises, “no weapon forged against you will proposer.” Our wall of protection is the Word of God. It is a sharp two edged sword which rightly divides the word of truth and cuts through the lies and deceit of the enemies of God. Our wall moves and goes with us. It is not stationary, nor must we be dependent upon a physical barrier for safety. The Holy Spirit of the Most High God abides with us always, ‘even to the end of the world’. Our great wall, God most High, protects us but He never imprisons us.
Let us be thankful for the protection of our God Most High, Kochany
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