The Great Wall of China is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
China’s best-known monument is the Great Wall that surrounded the country during the Ming Dynasty. Of all the walls built for protection throughout history there is none rivaling the Great Wall of China. Its inception started 200 years prior to the birth of Jesus and it took multiple generations to cooperate for it to be completed. The wall spans over 4,000 miles in length, is 25 feet in thickness and its height was set so no opposing force could scale it, it was definitely built to keep the unwanted out. And yet, within the 100 years following the completion of the wall, China would be successfully raided 3 times.
What should have been impossible was actually pretty easy, as the gatekeepers in charge simply opened the gate and let the enemy in after being bribed. It's true! After many dynasties working collectively to provide a safe environment, free from the outside attacking forces, tyranny came from within. The Chinese people should have been safe, the protection was ample, but there was a small part of them who had compromised their integrity and allowed the gate to be opened, which resulted in much sin, and destruction.
There is a lesson we can learn when considering how the enemy was able to infiltrate so easily. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Solomon in this passage is giving some very important advice to his son. The advice very simply was for him to,“Guard his heart!”
We need to guard the gate to our heart because there are many enemies that would like to invade our life and take what we have been given by God. We are not strong enough to defend our own heart from the enemies of the world, the flesh and the devil. We need a shield that cannot be easily penetrated and Solomon tells us that such a shield exists. Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Let the Word of God shield your heart and filter anything that tries to gain access to it. We must be determined in this day and age that we will not compromise or give any place to the devil in our lives! Guard your heart!!!
Article by
MATT MCDANIEL
Assistant Pastor
New Manna
Baptist Church