“Beneficial Boundaries”

One winter a ski resort in Breckenridge, Colorado, posted signs warning skiers to keep off a certain slope. The signs, LARGE and distinct, said, “DANGER! OUT OF BOUNDS!” 
In spite of the warnings, however, several skiers went into the area.  The result?  
An avalanche, one-half mile wide, buried four of the trespassers beneath tons of snow and rock. This tragedy would have NEVER happened if the warning signs had been heeded!

From this incident, one recognizes that one benefit of boundaries is to protect us from harm.

Nevertheless, in our culture, boundaries are often HATED because they are viewed as being too constrictive.  It is believed that our freedom will be hampered if limitations are imposed on our lives.  Opposition to boundaries is no where more evident than when it comes to boundaries that God has given through His Word.

Often, we fail to recognize that just as those signs were posted for the SAFETY and BENEFIT of the skiers in Breckenridge, following God’s instructions ALSO ensures that WE are protected from harm.  When God and His standards are ignored, man digresses into all kinds of immorality and suffering, which ultimately results in Judgment. (read Romans 1).  When God’s ways are followed, man’s condition improves!

It is ALSO important to recognize that God didn’t set forth His commands to curb our freedom, but rather to teach us the meaning of REAL liberty! 

God’s "loving limits" actually set us free to become the people God created us to be.  We’re kind of like kites!  The kite is attached to a string, which is held by a person standing on the ground.  After the kite is airborne, one might be tempted to cut the string to allow the kite to fly higher.  However, if the string is cut, the kite will NOT gain greater altitude.  Instead, it will plummet to the ground.  A kite finds its freedom to fly within a boundary.  So do we!

God blesses those who are obedient to His will.  Those who believe in Jesus (Acts 16:31), repent of living by their OWN boundaries (2 Corinthians 7:10), confess that Jesus is God’s Son (Romans 10:9-10), are baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 22:16), and continue to walk within God’s boundaries as a way of life (1 John 1:7), are blessed by God with the abundant life NOW (John 10:10) and eternal life to come (Romans 6:23).

Clear and beneficial boundaries have been set for us by our loving Creator, who sees what we DO NOT and knows what we CANNOT! 

Will YOU trust and submit to Him?  

Have YOU obeyed the gospel? (click here)

God bless you!

David A. Sargent, Minister 

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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