Broken Bounderies
The Heron is a fairly common sight on our Island – seen mostly standing on the shoreline of lochs and rivers. Such places are its natural habitat – its natural boundary.
For us as individuals, families, groups and nations, boundaries are important. The Bible reminds us that when God “divided mankind” he “set up boundaries for all the peoples” (see Deuteronomy 32: 8). Such boundaries are not only geographical but also moral and spiritual! To step outside a boundary is, very often, to step in to danger, and to travel beyond the protection that a boundary offers.
Some time ago a friend of mine walked well beyond a life “boundary”. A short time later while travelling in his car one evening he saw a Heron standing on the highway and narrowly avoided striking it. However, on his return journey in both natural darkness and the darkness of a guilty conscience he didn’t see the bird standing on the road in front of him and ploughed in to it - killing it instantly. At that moment he heard the voice of The Spirit calling him by name and telling him that he stood where the Heron had stood seconds before – way outside its place of protection, far beyond where it should have been. He was brought to repentance!
What is true in the life of an individual is true in the life of the Church and Nation. The tragic events in our world highlight the precarious position in which we find ourselves. It is possible to step beyond the place of his protection! This is not his will or desire – but a natural consequence of our behaviour and action.
As Jesus stood with a broken heart over his capital city he cried out – “How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t’ t let me.” (Matthew 23 37 – NLT) He still cries – over the natons, towns and cities of our world. Our Father’s longing is for restoration, repentance, and humility so that he can be our tower, refuge and rock – the place of our protection. However, we must return and dwell within His boundaries – for only there are we guaranteed his protection.
