The Great Wall of China
An international student from China had been meeting with me for conversational English all semester. As we met for our last session before exams, he brought me a gift – a print of the Great Wall of China. He told me that the Wall had been built over many centuries to keep out those who sought to invade and attempt to conquer the Chinese.
The picture of the Wall is breathtaking: an engineering marvel; a defensive barrier that stretched for thousands of miles and several stories high; a symbol of protection; Built generally during the Ming Dynasty of 1368-1644.
My Chinese friend informed me that there are some misconceptions about the Wall that I may not be aware of. First, the Wall is not a continuous structure. Some parts of the Wall were built over time by varying ruling parties and do not necessarily all link up.
Second, the Wall is assumed to be more than two thousand years old, but some segments were built during the Era of Warring States from 403-221 B.C. Other more significant segments were built in the last 500 or so years. Third, some have claimed that the Wall is visible from the moon, but it is not true. The Wall is visible from satellites, but not from the moon. Last, every defensive structure has a weakness, and with the right methods could be penetrated.
There is, however, one defensive system that is continuous, eternally tested, sound supernaturally, visible from anywhere on the planet, and impenetrable. It is God Himself.
Read Psalm 18:2-36. God is our fortress, our shield, our rock, our deliverer, our stronghold, and our help. God protects His people by His very name and person. His powerful walls cannot be breached by any enemy. If we trust in His promises, He will not allow us to be destroyed by fiery darts, flaming arrows, false accusations, or fierce temptations. Nothing can overcome His strength. No one can take us out of His hand.
Do you have enemies? Are any of them more powerful than God? What temptation grips you with overwhelming force? God is able to provide a way out so that you can stand up and overcome it (1 Corinthians 10:13). Do you feel weak and susceptible to attack? He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.
The Great Wall of China is one of the most amazing wonders of the world. It is a very impressive structure (even in a poster). But it is a man-made creation. Read and meditate again on the text of Psalm 18. We are more safe in Jesus than we are anywhere else in the universe. Nothing can overpower God’s strength.
Grow devotionally. You need first hand knowledge and experience of who God is in order to know how safe you are in Christ. Make it a point to read five Psalms a day for the next 30 days to deepen your understanding of God. Order a copy of “Living and Praying in Jesus Name” by Jack Hayford and Dick Eastman. The book includes 30 names of God. Read one name of God a day for the same 30 days as you read the Psalms. I believe you will come to know that Jesus’ shield will never yield.
Love is a verb,
Mike O
