“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3
As I write this, it is January 6th, Epiphany, on the liturgical church calendar. Epiphany in church history commemorates the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the visiting Magi. It is a day to celebrate God stepping into the world and announcing He came into the world for all people. He wasn’t done with humanity; He had a redemption plan, and that plan was and is Jesus! Epiphany is also seen as the official end of the Christmas season for some, myself included. The decorations are packed away, the cabinets are cleared of all Christmas treats, and the New Year has begun. Resolutions are made, goals are redefined, and reflections of the previous year are pondered. One of my resolutions is to be more aware in the upcoming year of seeing God in the little things of everyday life. I admit that amid this significant life transition, my eyes have been clouded with to-do lists, assimilating to a new lifestyle, and mourning the loss of the familiar.
Our guide made an interesting statement on a recent trip to the Bahamas as we approached the beach area. He told us that a “shark-proof” area had been made for our enjoyment. I can honestly say that I thought it was a joke. As we approached the beach, the breathtaking turquoise waters of the Bahamas stretched out in full glory, but our delectation of those waters would be restricted to a small man-made lagoon. A rock wall had been constructed with small inlets to let water flow in and out freely. A rope line and buoys were anchored in front of the wall to ensure everyone knew that the rocks and the seas beyond were off-limits. A lifeguard or, more aptly, the “shark guard” was stationed on the rocks for an extra measure of safety. Not so much to watch for people trying to escape, which was almost impossible, but to watch for what might enter into the lagoon from the sea. As I marveled at the physical barrier attempting to keep me safe, I was reminded that God gives us boundaries to keep us safe. He stations the Holy Spirit in our hearts to guard it from an invasion, and He will always throw us a rope and a buoy to grab (but we must grab it) when we venture too close to danger.
God’s boundaries are His standards for righteous living, given in His Word. Often, Christians are ridiculed for having too many rules and not being able to have fun. But nothing could be further from the truth. As Christians, our deepest desire should be to follow God’s way of righteous living out of love for Him and because of the sacrifice made for us. That is the only way to experience freedom and to enjoy the life God has given us fully. When we step outside of the boundaries because of selfish desires, we become slaves to sin. God’s boundaries keep us safe from ourselves.
The boundaries, with the help of the Holy Spirit, create a barrier that gives us the strength to resist an invasion of temptations that don’t align with God’s Word. But at the end of the day, we are all human and will need the rope and buoy to put us back within the boundaries when we venture too far off course. God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, and Godly wisdom from Pastors, family, or friends are our Christian journey’s rope/buoy system. I pray that in the upcoming year, you will experience the beauty and freedom of swimming within the waters of God’s boundless love and protection. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.
The picture is of the safety lagoon on the island of CocoCay, Bahamas.