When my children were young, I had a rule for when they played in the woods beside our house. The rule was simple: stay in the fenced area. That simple, just don’t cross the fence. Why? Because as long as they stayed within the fenced area, they couldn’t get lost. Plus I owned the property within the fence. After they were grown the subject came up and I found out that they would cross over the fence from time to time. They did this because they wanted to explore what was out there. What was beyond the fence?
God has rules that serve as fences in our lives. These are guidelines that are in place to protect us. Too many want to venture out and see what’s beyond the fence. What is God stopping them from enjoying? The fence is not there to prevent our enjoyment, but rather to protect us.
The other aspect about fences is that they mark property lines. In Biblical times fences were considered to be land markings or landmarks. “The ancient landmark” refers to “the ancient border” or “boundary”; by which lands, estates, and inheritances were marked, bounded, and distinguished; set by ancestors in agreement with their neighbors; which to remove was contrary to a law, and a curse.
The problem with taking down these fences or landmarks is where do you put it back up? What have you given up when you take the fence down? The Bible talks about the gates of hell. You know the thing about gates is they are connected to fences. If we take a fence down that has been in place for years. A fence that has been a Biblical truth. A fence that people have prayed, fasted and labored in the Spirit to make sure it’s in the right place. If we take this down, then what are we giving away to the enemy. What dangers are we creating for our lives? Let’s protect the fences in our lives.
Proverbs 22:28 KJV Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Proverbs 4:23 ISV Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life.