The Watchman By Jacob D Sullivan

The Old Testament provides us with an image of a stronghold surrounded by thick walls, a draw bridge, and fortified gates. The gates of the ancient cities are not as we imagine today’s gates, but massive gates made of stone, iron, brass, or wood frequently sheeted with metal. They were tall and wide. “The Gate called Beautiful” of Herod’s temple was made of brass and required twenty men to close it. These gates were opened during the day to allow the citizens to come and go, but were generally closed and barred at night as a safety measure to keep out enemy attacks. It was a common truth that, whoever controlled the gates of the stronghold ruled the city.

This is why God’s promise to Abraham was, “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;”

So today, who is in control to the gate of our soul — our heart? While the world runs rampant in depravity, and society continues to slide in moral descent, who is watching their heart, ensuring the enemy is at bay? It is the critical hour of humanity, for the Lord is soon to return for His bride.