During the Revolutionary War, a loyalist spy appeared at the headquarters of Hessian commander Colonel Johann Rall, carrying an urgent message. General George Washington and his Continental army had secretly crossed the Delaware River that morning and were advancing on Trenton, New Jersey where the Hessians were encamped. The spy was denied an audience with the commander and instead wrote his message on a piece of paper. A porter took the note to the Hessian colonel, but because Rall was involved in a poker game he stuffed the unread note into his pocket. When the guards at the Hessian camp began firing their muskets in a futile attempt to stop Washington’s army, Rall was still playing cards.
Without time to organize, the Hessian army was captured. The battle occurred the day after Christmas, 1776, giving the colonists a late present–their first major victory of the war.
Dear Church, we have been given a message that the Lord is returning through the Word of God, which is better than any human message could bring us. It is an urgent message to be alert and stay faithful and sensible in this fallen world. May we actually stop our running around this world and read the message from the Lord and then act upon it by preparing our lives for the Lord’s return. May we begin to stop asking if Jesus is coming and start asking when He is returning! Pastor Mark
