The Walls We Build
In ancient times cities were surrounded by walls to serve as a distinction between the cities and also to protect them from their enemies. Some walls were so thick (as around Jericho) that the occupants had chariot races on top of them and they even had strategically placed guard towers in them. Walls have their places, Nehemiah even rebuilt and repaired walls in the city.
The problem comes when we build walls to place God in a box, when we build walls to keep others captive, when we build walls to force our beliefs and ideas on others. We must fight this type of idealism everyday. Walls can be destructive, confining, or even suffocating.
I followed a study on children in a playground area. The first time they played on the playground is was without an barriers or bounds. The second time they played on the same playground their was a 10 foot chain-linked fence erected around the entire playground. The first day the kids played they stayed very close to the playground equipment; however the second day at the playground the kids played on the equipment and as far out as the fence and everywhere in between. The point of the study/exercise was to see how kids reacted to the boundaries placed on them.
Even though we see that these kids played all the way to the fence, pushed the envelope so to say, doesn’t mean that the more boundaries the better. Doesn’t mean that we needed to be more restrictive on their play area, play time, or what they played with. “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28 KJV)
I do see, however, that when we know how far is too far… we may try to push that boundary past that limit.
Jesus Christ came to tear down the “middle wall” or the veil between the ‘Holy of Holies’ and God’s children. “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:13-14 KJV)
If you have walls, make sure that they keep you protected, keep enemies at bay, give you the freedom to know your safe area and give you the opportunity to separate yourself during a time of consecration unto the Lord.
