The house you see in the foreground of the picture above is the Boston home of Mr. Paul Revere. You remember him from the history books, don't you? You may even recall the famous Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem (not historically precise, but very good and patriotic) titled "Paul Revere's Ride". The beginning of which reads,
"Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five:
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.
He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light,—
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm...”
Revere wasn't the only rider that April night in 1775. William Dawes, Samuel Prescott and still others from the patriot group "Sons of Liberty" whose names are lost to history, split up, took different routes, and rode horseback that night from town to town to warn the citizens of the colony that "the British are coming". Their cries of warning reached places such as Charlestown, Lexington (where Revere was captured, but then released), Lincoln, and Concord, preparing the citizens for the coming danger.
These men performed an invaluable service to their country, their gallantry still being remembered to this day. While they did not serve as Generals and lead troops into battle, emerging victorious, they did equip the people with what they needed to know so that the battles could be fought and won. Their contributions to American history are significant and greatly appreciated.
God has appointed watchmen in regard to spiritual dangers as well. God informed His man, the prophet Ezekiel, as to what he must do and declare to the people of Israel and how He would evaluate his actions in light of the commission given to him. God's declaration is enlightening. Ezekiel 33:1-9 -
"1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 'Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 3 and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.
7 'So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul."
Brothers and sisters, let's you and I take a page from Revere, Dawes, Prescott and Ezekiel. Let's resolve to stand watch, remain alert, and to make God's warning known, knowing that some will heed His call!
Pastor Jeremy
