Articles
Boundaries and Limits
Quite a few people in the world in which we live see the Bible as a bunch of limits and restrictions — a book of "Thou shalt nots" that are intended to keep everyone from having a good time or enjoying life. This should come as no surprise to anyone, for the same attitude is displayed by many towards any and all laws and regulations, with many simply ignoring the laws, limits, and regulations because they do not feel like they are obligated to do so.
Recent events in the area, with all the flooding, has demonstrated once again that some do not feel bound by anything that would limit or restrict their behavior. I have watched not a few videos of individuals driving around barriers and into floodwaters, and some of them being swept away by those same floodwaters. It seems some see those barriers as 'unnecessary' or, possibly, that it doesn't apply to them. It could be that some are thinking, 'It won't hurt anything if I just ignore the barrier.'
The results have proven otherwise, and let us consider that point for today: Limitations, barriers, boundaries, regulations, and even restrictions are for our good — whether we think so or not, and whether or not we understand why or how they are for our good. Especially in spiritual matters, it is important that we learn at a very young age that, even if we don't understand why, God's limitations are for our spiritual good.
Think about a few things we might face in everyday life — barriers, boundaries, limits, regulations, and restrictions — and the fact they are there for our good, whether we agree with them or not.
Driving up a steep, winding, mountain road, the narrow road has guard rails on the outside lane; would you say those barriers are unnecessarily restrictive and should be removed? Of course, not! They are for our protection and safety.
In every home that meets local building codes, there will be fuses in the junction box that will cut off power should there be a power surge; would you say those fuses are unnecessary and should be removed? Of course, not! They are there for our protection and safety.
Out on the highway and even in town, there are speed limits on every road and street, with speeds lower in town and residential areas, and even lower speeds around parks and schools; would you demand all speed limits be lifted and allow every driver to drive at whatever speed he or she deems adequate? I would
hope you would say 'No' because there would be a wide variety of speeds, and some would simply go as fast as they could, wherever they went, and I can only imagine the carnage that would result. Those speed limits are there for our protection and safety — even when I think they are too low for my desires.
When our children were much younger, we put child-safety locks on all our lower cabinets, and I had a lockable cabinet in the garage where paint and chemicals were stored; would you say that was unnecessarily restrictive and that our toddlers should have been given free access to any and all locations? Of course, not! Those barriers were there for their protection and safety, whether they understood it or not.
We could go on and on, but consider the point made: Limitations, barriers, boundaries, restrictions, and regulations are for our good. It doesn't matter whether we understand the purpose of such limitations or not, or even whether we agree with the limitations or not; they are for our good.
Now, spiritually speaking, this is a concept we must understand early in life, and one we must be reminded of from time to time lest we forget and start to complain about what we can't do, rather than focus on what we can and should be doing. This has been true from the beginning, for God has always had our spiritual good in mind.
When Moses had reminded the Israelites of what God had done for them in bringing them out of Egypt, he then reiterated the Law to the people and reminded them, “And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day” (Deut. 6:24). He would later remind them that what the Lord required was that they love Him with their all, “and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good” (Deut. 10:13). Clearly, the intent of the Law of Moses was for the spiritual good of God's people. Though many even today see those laws as merely prohibitive in nature, they were not all about what they couldn't do; it was about learning to love God from the heart and enjoying His blessings and protection as a result; as was always the case, living within the boundaries of His law brought reward!
This truth has not changed just because we are now under the New Testament law of Christ. Now, God's people [Christians] must adhere to the words of Jesus Christ — even when they restrict, limit, and regulate us. James reminds us, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless” (Jas. 1:25, 26). In other words, if we live according to God's will, we will be blessed; if we act like the world, we can expect no reward from the Lord.
This “law of liberty” of which James writes is not a law where we are free to do whatever we want; in fact, the gospel message is primarily a message of self-denial (cf. Titus 2:11, 12). We are to be living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1), and we are to put away the old man we were before we submitted to the will of Christ (Col. 3:5-10). Yes, there are many things we must not do and/or give up when we come to Christ, but being a disciple is not all about not doing things; living for Christ means doing the things that are pleasing to Him. Instead of now living to please self (Eph. 2:1-3), we live to please God (2 Cor. 5:9). It's not just about what we don't do, but now for whom we do what we do.
Where God has placed boundaries, limitations, and restrictions, we must abide by His will if we truly seek to please Him. It is when we trespass and go beyond those boundaries that we sin (1 John 3:4). There is nothing wrong with money, but a love of it leads to all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10); the sexual relationship within marriage is honorable to God, but outside of the marriage relationship it is sin (Heb. 13:4); we have freedom of speech in this country, but we must be careful what we say (Eph. 4:29), and how we say it (Col. 4:6). It is only when we willing submit to His will that we can say we have fellowship with God (1 John 1:7), and only then can we say we abide with Him (1 John 3:22); we are fooling only ourselves if we think we can ignore His commands and wear His name (1 John 2:4).
We might not like wearing a seat belt or a helmet, but the wisdom of wearing them will be demonstrated best when they are most needed; the benefit of living within the limitations God has given us may not be fully realized until Judgment Day, but He has told us He will reward the faithful.
Don't go around the barrier, where you will be swept away by the power of sin's lure. If you value your soul, stand on the side where it is safe. Stand with Christ.
—— Steven Harper
