The story is told that during the Revolutionary War, a colonial spy, loyal to the British, presented himself at the headquarters of Hessian commander Colonel Johann Rall. With him, he carried a top-secret message of highest importance the Hessian military leader.
The message contained the information that General George Washington and his army had surreptitiously crossed the Delaware River and were fast approaching Trenton, New Jersey—the camp of the Hessian army. To the spy’s chagrin, his request his request to meet with Colonel Rall was turned down.
The spy then recorded his information on a piece of paper and asked an attendant to take it to Colonel Rall. The message was delivered; however, Rall ignored it. Instead, he stuffed it in his pocket. Rall was engrossed in a poker game and did not want to disturb his concentration.
Later, Rall’s day was rudely interrupted… by the muskets of the soldiers of Washington’s army. Washington’s army leveled the Hessians. Many, including Colonel Rall, ultimately lost their lives.
This event occurred on December 26, 1776. It was the first major victory for the colonial army. They possibly would not have gained the victory had Colonel Rall been alert.
Satan gains a lot of victories because Christians are not on the watch. Perhaps that’s why the apostle Peter wrote, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (I Pet. 5:8.)
Source: Today in the Word, MBI, October, 1991, p. 21
No comments:
Post a Comment