“Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.” Proverbs 22:28 ESV
In the old testament, the children of Israel were allotted their inheritances when they moved to the promised land. These inheritances were mainly in the land and territories they were to occupy. In occupying those territories, they were to displace the previous occupants in order to become rightful owners. They were not to cohabit with them nor intermarry with them. Relationships and practices were to be guarded strictly. The reasons for these were not farfetched: the possibility of the Israelites shifting their allegiance from God, was a probability where boundaries were not maintained. Those were boundaries that God established for them.
However, some of the tribes failed in this. The long term consequences spelt disaster. They did not respect boundaries both in property lines, practices and in relationships. Some that respected property lines failed in relationship boundaries.
Some tribes obeyed at the beginning but as they grew in number (years, ages, achievements, influence and affluence), boundaries began to shift. Some tribes even failed to chase out all the previous inhabitants, leaving some behind. (Joshua 15-Judges 1)
As believers, we must take heed to ourselves, watching closely to ensure we do not shift boundaries or accommodate those things we are supposed to eject, especially as we advance in life. We need to ensure that structures that we had in place in our earlier years of walking with the Lord: practices that we imbibed such as ample time and attention dedicated to reading, studying the Word; our prayer altars; personal spiritual retreats; boundaries we had in place as we relate with the opposite gender; practices we had in place as we walked with the Lord; programs we view on TV (Internet) etc do not get compromised.
In these days of modern technology, increased activities and the desire to be accomplished, our attention is seriously competed for, that if we do not take heed, our boundaries are compromised!
For the believer today, boundaries go beyond just the physical to include moral, social, and spiritual boundaries. It involves respecting established positive norms and traditions that helped us get to where we are today even if, in our Christian community today, they seem outdated or inconvenient.
Be careful of the things that may gradually be eroding your boundaries; practices that you used to detest but are gradually becoming acceptable to you. Be at alert against dangerous things that appear harmless. Spiritual or moral earthquakes don’t just happen but only when attention is no longer given to secure boundaries.
Be careful of the things that may gradually be eroding your boundaries; practices that you used to detest but are gradually becoming acceptable to you. Be at alert against dangerous things that appear harmless.
Remember, that you have an enemy who watches your gate day and night. Be awake! Be alert!
May the Spirit of God constantly steer up our alertness in order to help us guard our boundaries securely. May He help us claim back our territories where they might have been compromised. Amen!
Funmi Adebayo