A Mighty Fortress

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

I learned a lot during our team’s visit to Gibraltar on Sunday. We attended a Methodist church that several of the staff here attends. On the way over to Gibraltar from where we are staying you actually have to cross a border and technically leave Spain and enter the British Commonwealth. Gibraltar is a territory with its own governor and management but it is a part of the United Kingdom. All the signs are in English and you can find uniquely British products like Marmite and baked beans—or so I’m told. I am fairly sure this is the first time I had to have my passport out to attend church. The sermon was from Ezekiel 37 where the valley of dry bones come to life and also included the story of the raising of Lazarus in the New Testament. The pastor talked about both the centrality of Jesus and how God speaks life into our dry places. The worship was especially sweet for me. I think I must like guitar players that have dreadlocks; perhaps they are antennae for the Holy Spirit.

After church we popped over to a small plaza for lunch at an outdoor restaurant. I got the chance to play with 18 month old Caleb. We chased pigeons, found every dirty piece of anything lying on the ground, hollered loudly in a small pedestrian tunnel to hear the resonance, pretended we were in jail using the metal handrails and spent some time chatting on the pay phone—all before our food arrived.

Afterwards we hired a taxi tour to take the team up the rock of Gibraltar to see the sites. I had enough geography to know that Gibraltar was a high point at the narrow point separating the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean but until I saw the thing in person I didn’t realize how dominant of a feature this rock is. Climbing right out of the salt water the white face shoots strait to the sky. The road up to the top does the same.

Along the way, as well as spectacular views, you visit a large cave that was set up as a unique theater and opera house for special events. At times it was also used as a hospital and other operations that needed a safe place to operate during hostile military conflicts.

The next stop was the apes. Apes are like monkeys without tails and were introduced to Gibraltar presumably by the Moors at some point in history. However, the legend goes that the British will hold control of Gibraltar as long as there are still apes living there. Now they are a tourist attraction and are fed regularly and kept healthy for the tourists.

It is definitely worth the price of admission. Since then, I’ve been humming the old hymn “A mighty fortress is our God.”Because of the rock’s strategic location, the history is basically one of trying to forcibly take control of that relatively small piece of real estate. At some point the Brits had the great idea of chiseling tunnels into the rock to protect and defend against the various sieges.

They chiseled holes for cannons that allowed them to defend their positions from within the rock itself. Incredible to think of spending months inside a cave with hostile forces surrounding your position inside a rock tunnel.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God's own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he; Lord Sabaoth, his name, from age to age the same, and he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth; the Spirit and the gifts are ours, thru him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill; God's truth abideth still; his kingdom is forever.

As I read the words of the last stanza that speaks about losing goods and family and even your very life while keeping the gifts of the Spirit and the Christian life I can’t help but reflect on the persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters in the Arab world. This morning I heard the story of a Christian who did not meet a fellow Christian for three years after his conversion. And even then all involved approached the initial encounter with trepidation, not knowing if it might be a plan to uncover hidden Christians. These are the ones who can sing “Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill’ God’s truth abideth still: His kingdom is forever.”

Yes, what a mighty fortress. Dig in.