God has given us rules and guidelines to live by in His inspired word. Rules and regulations meant to guide and protect those who follow Him. They act as a fence around us as God sheep with the purpose of separating us from the dangers that lie on the other side. Keeping us safe from the wolves and lions on the outside looking to attack.
Matthew 7:15 (ESV)
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
The fence is there. There is no doubt about that. God has placed a separation between His people and those lost in the world. But the sad thing is we as Christians spend so much time focusing on the fence we never turn around to see the expanse of freedom that lies behind us. Open land that we have been granted the freedom to roam.
While there is a list of things that God has instructed us to not do and to keep ourselves from. There is another list, in fact, a longer list, of things that we have the freedom to do as God’s people. But so many fail to realize it and never take full advantage of it because they cannot take their eyes off the fence that is now separating them from their past lives.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
What’s more, we spend so much time focusing on the fence and looking where we can’t go we fail to realize one key thing. We are not the ones that are trapped. In fact, scripture tells us that it is those living in sin and believing they are free that are actually trapped.
2 Peter 2:19 (ESV)
19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
1 Timothy 6:9 (ESV)
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
The truth is we have true freedom. We have been freed from the chains of sins that once bound us. Let out of the pin of sin that we were once stuck in with little room to roam and placed in the expanse of God’s kingdom. Granted the freedom to live a life without fear or worry and granted the peace of mind to easily fall asleep at night.
Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
John 8:36 (ESV)
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Yes, there are things that scripture tells us that we as Christians cannot do. Places that we are not allowed to go, but we must realize this is not meant to hinder us or trap us. It is there for our protection to keep us safe and free from the troubles of this world. With the greatest purpose of keeping us as Christians from things that will keep us from entering Heaven.
Galatians 5:19–21 (ESV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So stop focusing on the fence, stop trying to stick your head through the post to reach into the other side. Turn around and see the expansive freedom God has granted you to roam and embrace it. God has separated His people from the world for our benefit. Life on the other side of the fence is far better than the life trapped in the small pin of sin that the world offers. No matter how great they try to make it seem.
Help us to turn more Christians away from the fence so they too can see the freedom God has given them. We cannot let Christians continue to look at those as lost in sin as the ones who are free. We must open their eyes to the fact they are the ones who are truly free.
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