"Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and took it. But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women - all the people of the city - fled there and shut themselves in : then they went up to the top of the tower." Judges 9:50-5.

The above short story concerns a city where rebellion took place and Abimelech had captured the city to destroy it. Before the birth of the rebellion, the city government was wise enough to construct a strong tower in which the citizens can run into to save their lives and it worked for them.
Note that it was during peace that the strong tower was constructed as a safe haven in time of troubles.

A careful reading of the book of Judges chapter number nine will reveal that so many lives of the inhabitants of Thebez were lost in the rebellion on hand. There can be so many reasons for this loss of lives. One of the reasons may be that many of those who lost their lives forgot that there is a strong Tower into which they could run into. Fear may be the cause of such forgetfulness. They may be perplexed when the city invasion took place. Whatever might be the reason for forgetfulness, the fact remains that they lost their lives.

Another possible reason is that they stayed too far away from the city's strong tower. Maybe, they were at a distance too far away from the ready made safe haven. Whose fault is it then? Who created the gap or distance? They were consumed by the rebellion before they could run into the Strong Tower.

Whatever might be the reasons, no sufficient excuse that could prevent their loss of lives. What a pity indeed? If you were a citizen of Thebez on that day, what steps would you take to safe your life?

The Lord Jesus Christ admonishes His disciples not to engage themselves in worrying about what tomorrow will bring forth because, "sufficient for the day is its own trouble" Matthew 6:34. NKJV.

This is not a new prophecy from the Lord but the truth of life in general. The new year 2021 has been with mankind now. Negative prophecies have come over this new year. True or false, going by Christ's declaration each year has its blacks and whites. Each day ditto each month has its own ups and downs. Although so many people do not want to hear anything negative about any day, month or year. It is easier for people to tag anyone who declares a negative revelation as "a prophet of doom"

Let me state here that a true prophet does not say what he likes but as revealed by God to him. Positive or negative, he must make it known so that he will not be guilty before the Lord who sent him.

Year twenty - twenty came with the unexpected happenings; that are purely negative. Those who did not prepare for it were caught napping. People without any strong Tower were swept away in the year. Those who were far away from the available strong Tower paid dearly for it in different ways.

The motive of this piece is not to mock or reproach such people, far be it from this! The purpose is to inspire you, my reader of the need for a strong Tower for year twenty - twenty - one. Do you have one? Do you care to have one into which you can run into in case any evil or trouble arises in twenty-twenty-one and beyond?

A Biblical declaration says
"The name of the Lord is a strong
Tower
The righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10. NKJV.

Do you know this name? Do you believe in it as a safety place for you? Please note that the name of the Lord is for ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS as a Strong Tower. Are you living right in the sight of your Maker? For you not to be consumed in the new year negatives, remember the name of the Lord your God as a Strong Tower. You are free, as a righteous person, to run into it at any time of the day. You and all that are yours will be safe in this Strong Tower.

Stay blessed and prepared for the imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Note: All Scriptures quoted are from New King James Version (NKJV) of the Holy Bible.

The Author is the set man of CTFM(WORLD OUTREACH)and Presiding Pastor of Christ Restland Gospel Church.He is a Poet and author of many books. Visit his blogsites www.4thlink.wordpress.com and www.peacelink.wordpress.com for more quality contents.