Verses: Acts 28:30-31; Ephesians 1:3-6; Colossians 1:16-17
Fun Fact: Dry Tortugas National Park is comprised 99% of water
Favorite Hike: Mote Wall
Dry Tortugas National Park is located 70 miles off the coast of Key West. The park is about 100 square miles and consists of seven keys or islands. Garden key is the most popular. It has a ranger station, Fort Jefferson and the inactive Garden Key lighthouse. Less than 1% of Dry Tortugas is dry land, so the most popular activity is snorkeling. There are a number of snorkeling and diving sites throughout the park, including several around the fort. You can snorkel along the moat wall or swim out to some of the coral reefs.
The park is only accessible by boat or seaplane. Most people take the ferry over from Key West which departs in the morning, stops at the park for four-to-five hours and returns in the evening. There are no facilities within the park, so if you want to stay longer than four hours, you must either have your own boat or camp at the primitive Garden Key campground. You must bring all your gear, including fresh water.
Fort Jefferson is the nation's largest masonry fort from the 1800s. It was originally built to support maritime trade between the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern Atlantic seaboard—one of the busiest shipping routes. This strategic location would allow the U.S. to launch an attack essentially anywhere along the coast.
It was later used during the Civil War as a base of operations for the U.S. Navy’s blockading force and as a federal prison, mostly for Union deserters. President Lincoln substituted imprisonment on the Dry Tortugas, instead of execution, for those found guilty of desertion. One of the more well-known prisoners is Dr. Samuel Mudd, sentenced for his role in treating the wounded John Wilkes Booth following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. By the mid-1870s the fort was abandoned, then later used as coaling station, eventually turned into a national monument in 1935 and a national park in 1992.
Overnight camping at Garden Key is the way to go to fully experience Dry Tortugas. Once the ferry departs, you have the place to yourself. You are free to wander the fort as you wish. It’s a little eerie to walk around under the moonlight and think of the people who have walked here before, especially those imprisoned and just escaping death. I wondered what their experience was like. Did they appreciate the beauty around them? Did they think one day their prison would be a tropical tourist destination?
I wonder what Paul’s experiences in prison were like. We catch glimpses of that in scripture. Paul was imprisoned more than once for preaching the gospel. We see in Acts that his imprisonment in Rome lasted two years.
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! – Acts 28:30-31
Remarkably, Paul's ministry didn’t stop or appear to slow down during this period. He was able to write four epistles during this time: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. These epistles contain some of our key theological principles.
Ephesians was written to the church in Ephesus. It is a letter of praise and encouragement, speaking to our blessings in Christ through our predestination, redemption and adoption.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. – Ephesians 1:3-6
Ephesians teaches us about spiritual gifts and our unity in Christ. Paul gives guidance to the church and to husbands and wives in marriage (the representation of Christ and the church). It is the longest of the four letters and one of the most instructive books of the Bible.
Philippians is written to the church at Philippi, who Paul loves and cares for. He encourages the people to stand firm in the faith, to hold fast and strive together, ensuring their lives are worthy of the gospel of Christ.
It’s here in Philippians we see the well-known verse in 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” reminding us that we may experience suffering for his sake, but it is worth it to one day be united with Him. Paul speaks of his imprisonment and how the Lord has used that to further the gospel (1:12).
Chapter 2 speaks to humility (2:3), selflessness (2:4) and the example of Christ in these attributes, urging believers to be a light in the world (2:15). In chapter 3, he warns against lawlessness and legalism and closes with great encouragement to rejoice in the Lord, be anxious for nothing and to dwell on things that are true and pure.
Colossians is written to the church in Colossae and teaches about Christ—His deity, power and authority and how because of Him, we are able to seek reconciliation, redemption, and forgiveness.
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. – Colossians 1:16-17
Colossians also offers lots of practical wisdom in terms of conduct for husbands, wives, parents and children. Similar to the previous letters, Paul also offers several warnings about sexual immorality, evil desires, idolatry, anger, wrath and malice. He then reminds us to pursue Christ-like qualities of kindness and humility.
Philemon: The last book of the prison epistles is the single chapter of Philemon. This book is written on behalf of Onesimus who served Paul during his imprisonment. You can learn more about him in the Devotion on Big Bend.) This book is about grace and forgiveness.
These are some of the most powerful books in the Bible for our Christian walk.
We see a few themes throughout these books: all share the gospel and make reference to proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and walking in a manner worthy of our calling. All contain timeless warnings and point us back towards Christ.
In these books, Paul also reminds us of his imprisonment and suffering, but often with a heart of joy through it (Ephesians 3:1; 4:1; Phil. 1:7; Col. 4:18)
As you visit Dry Tortugas National Park, I encourage you to read through one or more of these epistles. Imagine the circumstances under which Paul wrote them during his imprisonment. Cling to the truths he writes and thank the Lord for using this time in Paul’s life to provide such valuable instruction.
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