Fences

I went for another walk last night.

I wanted to walk to the bridge over our pond, but I took the long way around. I chuckled to myself as I thought how “taking the long route”

was definitely symbolic of my own life. As I got nearer to the pond, I also got nearer to the barn gate between me and the pond. I could see the pond, I could see where I wanted to be, but there was a fence there, between me and the place I was trying get to.

When I got to the gate, I stood there for a minute, my heart heavy with the thought of how many souls are just like this in their spiritual life. They see the bridge, they see that place of freedom, but they just keep standing at the gate. They just keep building fences. Last night, as I climbed over the barn gate, I wondered why I stood at my own spiritual gate for so long before realizing that just because fences don’t move, doesn’t mean that we can’t. I wondered why it took me so long to realize that all those fences between me and spiritual freedom weren’t put there by God, but by me. 

When Jesus began His ministry, both religious and political people saw Him as dangerous. Jesus was dangerous to fence builders and fence maintainers, because Jesus came to remind people of the Father’s heart— a Father Who desires for His children to be free. Jesus came to give mankind greater revelation to words written on scrolls—  to explain to us their deeper meaning, and to fulfill them. 

He came to set the captives free— whether captive to sin, or captive to religion, or even captive to themselves— for Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed. 

(John 10:9,10) I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

(John 8:24,31-36) “That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”.. So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free…Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin…So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

(1 Tim 2:3-7) This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth…