I won’t be sharing pictures on my blog since I travel overseas to teach theology but I can say that we visit South Carolina during our vacation and got to visit Fort Sumter where the Civil War’s first shot took place. Its why I reviewed a book on Fort Sumter this month. See Review: A History of Fort Sumter: Building a Civil War Landmarks.
This post I want to share a devotional thought.
As I took my daughters to visit Fort Sumter and the other costal batteries I did have some lesson and talk with the girls about the weaponry of Canons and Motars.
I think the kids were surprised how big they were.
I admit I was too.
Some of the early canons in Fort Sumter and neighboring Fort Moultrie were made to destroy wooden ships. Of course as the centuries past the weapons on these forts got bigger and bigger.
I’m always amaze at the development of weapons of warfare throughout history.
People go from using projectiles and weapons from stone, copper, bronze, iron, steal and alloys, etc.
Which when I was standing there with my kids looking at the heavy canon I start thinking who would want to bring a knife to a big gun fight; and who would think about even bringing a wooden weapon to a fight where canons were designed to destroy wood.
Turns out my latest review of The Serpent and the Serpent Slayer shared the same thought quoting Augustine of how Christ’ weapon was wood.
The wooden Cross.
Colossians 2:15 states “ When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” What kind of weapon did Christ have to disarm demonic and spiritual dark forces? The previous verse mentioned the Cross. The Cross is His wooden weapon. But it wasn’t used against you and I; He used it against Himself. Hung on it. Died on it. To disarm spiritual enemies. To win us with love and to save His enemies.
So counterintuitive. But its a wisdom that the world doesn’t know.
If you hear this and have yet to trust in Jesus as your Savior, do so today. Repent and trust in Jesus alone to save us from the Wrath of God.
[…] Visiting Fort Sumter, Seeing Canons and Thinking about the counter-intuitive wisdom of a weapon made… […]
The cross! O what weapon! O what a Savior!
Many of God’s ways are counter intuitive. Who wants to be the least? Who wants to put others above ourselves? Who wants to chance casting their bread upon the waters? (Unless there are ducks begging). What a great concept Jim that wood was used by God as the greatest weapon ever.
Thanks for reading this you are right about how so much of the ways of God is countercultural and counterintuitive. It leaves me more amaze with God, and worship Him!!!
[…] Visiting Fort Sumter, Seeing Canons and Thinking about the counter-intuitive wisdom of a weapon made… […]
Excellent comparison between the increasingly powerful weaponry of human warfare and Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the wooden cross! There were so many counter-intuitive things about Jesus’ ministry on Earth as the promised Messiah. Orthodox Jews are still looking for the Messiah because Jesus did not fit the bill of their preconceived “big cannons” notions.
So true so many counterintuitive aspects of Christ and Christianity. It’s a stumbling block to those who worship reason above God. Are you feeling better??
Thanks! I’m feeling better and starting to get an appetite, but still dealing with “the runs.” I lost five pounds in two days! That’s a really tough way to diet.
How’s your Tuesday going?
As before, missing your main point, but my eyes hurt…. 😉 https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/canon-vs-cannon-grammar-rules
I like this point Jim – the wooden cross of Calvary as a weapon! A weapon against sin, and against the evil one. It must also be significant that His Cross was victorious over the might of the Roman war machine?
Totally true to bring that observation to the fore! His weapon is so powerful it was victorious over the Roman Empire. I am reminded of how Roman soldiers like Centurions come to faith both in the New Testament and Church history. And Roman soldiers is what made the Roman Empire strong! Christ is the Greatest Victor of all, winning over enemies with love and sacrifice for them!! What an amazing Savior amen???
Amen indeed!
Jimmy,
Now they kill with drones: of all arsenals of war, the most immoral for so many reasons. What a moving meditation on the Cross! This is the way of Peace, with God, first, then man. (Btw, I know your children appreciated your making history come alive.) Have a blessed day, brother.
pax,
dora
I am not against drone per se but they really really need to have stricter rules of engagement and burden of proof; one of the horrible facet of human nature with technology is the more convenient and easy a tool is, the more it seems easier to use it. With a wicked desire to have mere numbers of body counts as a metric we get the horrible things that’s been happening. And the last drone attack with the US departure really really made me upset; the final straw if you will. But enough of politics for now. Christ way is so much different with His weapon, the Cross. What a Savior we have in Christ! Thank you for reading this Dora! Hope you have a blessed day! I hope this week to read more and write more reviews; anything you have been reading lately Dora?
I actually broke down and bought the ebook of The Speaking Trinity & His Worded World: Why Language Is at the Center of Everything (by Hibbs) and have begun reading it. Interested in seeing how he fleshes out his thesis, but its fascinating already. This is Van Till taken to the nth power. I just hope it doesn’t out-Van Til Van Til if you know what I mean. :>) So far, so good.
Jesus is the only answer.
Amen! Indeed He is, amen Maw Maw!
Never thought of the Cross like that before
Your ending reminded me of the song Power of the cross
“And oh to see the dawn of the darkest day Christ on the road to Calvary Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten Then nailed to a cross of wood This the power of the cross Christ became sin for us Took the blame, bore the wrath We stand forgiven at the cross.”
Amen! Only our Savior can turn a wooden Cross into the ultimate tool of mercy. His unselfish act saves lives.
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