Boundaries

 

Often, we think that boundaries are restrictive.  But in reality, boundaries give us security.  When we know that we have limits, we are secure.  When Kathy and I were first married in 1971, we lived in Kelso Mobile Home Park in Hixson, Tennessee.  Our first child was born while we lived there.  And then the second and then the third.  The children liked to play outside in the tiny yard, but they really liked to ride their tricycle and Big Wheel in the driveway.  But it was impossible for them to know where our driveway ended and where the street began.  One was safe and the other was dangerous.  So I painted a white line to mark where the driveway ended and the street began.  And I warned Becky and Phillip about crossing that line.  I didn’t paint the white line to be mean to my children; the white line was to keep them safe.  Hey, God’s Ten Commandments may be restrictive, but their purpose is to keep us safe.  And when we realize that we can’t keep the Ten Commandments, we realize that we need a Savior to redeem us!  Paul said in Romans 2:4, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”  The dear Lord’s restrictive law brings us to repentance and brings us back into fellowship with our Creator.  Hey, embrace boundaries!  They are good for us!  Yes, they are!