We enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles during the winter months. Recently, after quite a few hours of work, we conquered a puzzle which was called “The Impossible Puzzle.”  Not only was the picture on the box a bit misleading, but the puzzle had no “edge” pieces. Normally we pick out the edge (or frame) pieces first and build the border or frame of the puzzle. Then we can work from there. But in this case there were no edge pieces to get you started. It made it much more difficult.  Borders and boundaries are a part of life and serve an important purpose.  When God created, He set a boundary to separate light from darkness (Gen. 1:4). He also set boundaries between land and water. “He set for the sea its boundary, so that the water should not transgress His command: ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther’ ” (Prov. 8:29; Job 38:11 cf Psa. 104:9).  God created only two genders–male and female (Gen. 1:27; 5:2). God also put boundaries on His creation of plants and animals such that they would only reproduce “after their kind,” not evolve into new kinds (Gen. 1:11). Included in His covenant with Abraham, God promised Abraham’s descendants a land, whose boundaries are given in Gen. 15:18-21. (Note this promise has not yet been completely fulfilled, but will be when when Christ returns. Compare Gen. 15:18-21 with I Kgs. 4:21.)  At Mount Sinai, God gave His people a whole list of “boundaries” which would affect every area of their lives.  If they stayed within those boundaries, they would experience God’s blessings. 

     One of the key issues in the recent presidential election was the masses of illegals crossing our very insecure borders and pouring into our country. Quite a number of those entering have since committed violent crimes–including murder–across our nation.

    There is a reason a country has borders–to protect it. This has been true from the beginning of time. After sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, even Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden and not permitted to go back in. God placed cherubim with flaming swords to guard the entrance (Gen. 3:22-24). This was both punishment and an act of mercy lest they should eat of the “tree of life” and live forever in a sinful state of alienation. 

     We have grown up with boundaries all our lives. Parents (should) set boundaries for their children. These boundaries protect them and help them learn the rewards of obedience and consequences of disobedience. When we play games of baseball, basketball, tennis, football, soccer, etc, we have boundaries and rules that govern the game.  Some areas are “out of bounds” and not part of the “playing field.”  There are standards for such things as the basket height in basketball, the net height in tennis, the distance between bases in baseball, the width of the soccer goal, etc.  When we travel in our vehicles, the roads have boundaries and road signs which we must obey to be safe. If it weren’t for boundaries and rules all would be chaos!  God is a “God or order” 

     Similarly, God sets boundaries for our benefit and to remind us that we are not the rule makers–He is!  Boundaries can help Christians live a more fulfilling life, and they help us stay in closer fellowship with Jesus. They protect our well-being and safeguard our spiritual health, mental wellness and physical health. “God is not a God of confusion but of peace (order)…” (I Cor. 14:33). It is His orderly hand that holds the world together (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:17). And, because He is a “God of order,” He deals with us in an orderly way–and that involves boundaries and rules.

     We can look at boundaries in one of two ways: to limit our freedom, or to keep us safe. Without boundaries, there would be chaos. Just think of what would happen if we didn’t have lane markers and signage on our roads. We would have multiple accidents, traffic jams and lots of road rage! Boundaries are designed to keep us safe, not to limit our freedoms (cf Gen. 2:16,17). Boundaries were designed to remind us that we are not God. Do we always agree with or appreciate the boundaries? No. We complain, thinking many are unfair. The serpent (Satan) challenged Eve’s understanding of God’s boundaries and of the consequences for heeding those boundaries. He got her to question the goodness of God. Well, you know the rest of the story!

     God established boundaries as a way to teach us to trust Him. They protect us and actually give us greater freedom, not less. We don’t need to know all of God’s reasons for setting them in order to obey.  It only takes one time of crossing the boundary to feel the deep pain of what we have done.  Stepping outside God’s boundaries always brings consequences. Just ask Adam and Eve (Gen. 3 cf Ro. 1:18-32)!  But, praise God, when we step outside God’s boundaries, His mercy and grace are available. God provided animal skin coverings for Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21),  Going outside God’s boundaries is called sin, “And, if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation (satisfying the justice of a holy God) for our sins… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I Jn. 2:1,2; 1:9). 

      God has set boundaries for us, not to limit us, but for us to have abundant life (Jn. 10:10). As we live within His boundaries, we not only won’t harm ourselves and others, but we will experience His great blessings (Eph. 1:3). Jesus said, “He who has my commandments and keeps them, he is the one who loves Me, and he who loves me will be loved by My Father and I will love him, and will disclose (manifest) Myself to him” (Jn. 14:21). 

     I remember an account in James Dobson’s classic book on childrearing, Dare To Discipline, of an experiment which was conducted where they observed children’s activities on a playground both with and without a bordering fence. With the fence up, children utilized the whole playground. Without the fence, they stayed close to the school building. The lesson? Fences provide a sense of security and freedom!  

Forever His,

Pastor Dave