Read:
Revelation 21:10-21
Galatians 5:19-23
This week in the U.S. we heard of people talking about walls and those who build walls are not Christians. There is talk about building walls on the borders of this country, there was finger pointing towards those who are in a high religious position who live in a city with walls. Building a wall for protection is not Christian, as was discussed. Is this really true?
I know people who are in construction and have built walls; some of them I go to church with. I would not call them a heathen. I have actually grown fond of some of the walls in my life. I enjoy some of the pictures I have hung up, when I am shaving it is really nice to have a mirror in front of me. So far it does a pretty good job of keeping the roof over me from falling down too. What does the Bible say about walls, should be build them or tear them down?
The answer to this question is yes to both building and tearing down walls. The Bible talks about physical walls, spiritual walls and uses metaphors of physical walls when talking about spiritual walls. In the Bible there are many examples of physical walls build built. The city of Jerusalem when first built it had walls around the city. When the walls were destroyed the Israelites were captured and taken as prisoners. After some time, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by the order of God. Without walls people can just come right in a steal and destroy your life. Walls serve as a way of protection. We also read in Revelation 21 that the new Heaven will have walls.
How about in an individual’s life, should one have walls in their life? Again, this answer is both yes and no. We know that Satan is like a roaring lion looking to attack. Proverb 25:28 tells us we need to have walls, but this wall is self-control. To many times we use the excuse of lack of self-control as “that is how God made me, so it is okay to do it”. This could not be further from the truth! In Galatians we read about the fruit of the Spirit and one of these fruits is self-control!
So far all that has been discussed is the building of walls, physically and spiritually, so where does having no walls come in to play? That is in our hearts. Are we letting Jesus into our hearts? He is knocking but will we invite Him into our life? Behold. I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me. Revelations 3:20.
When we let Jesus enter past the walls of our heart, we do not have to rely on our own self effort for protection. Jesus, our God will provide that protection. In Isaiah 60:18, “Violence will not be heard again in your land, Nor devastation or destruction within your borders; But you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.
With this protection we are now able to be the salt and light as we need to be to a fallen world. We can go past the walls we made in our hearts to reach out to those who need our help because the Holy Spirit, Jesus, will be there to guide us and protect us. This also allows for the fruit of the spirit to be shown in our lives. As the lion seeks to devour the weak, we can find them let them into our protected area so that they too can find Jesus, and let His spirit enter them.
Let this be our prayer for this week:
Dear Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask for your spirit to take over in my life. I want to make it a practice to reach my neighbor for his true welfare, to strengthen him and build him up in all ways – spiritually; socially and materially.
I desire to imitate my Heavenly Father, and as a child of light, I will walk in love and wisdom and help to encourage others. Help me also to love my enemies and to do good; doing favors so that someone else benefits from them, expecting and hoping for nothing in return, considering that nothing is lost.
Thank you Father for Your Word, and laying them in my heart and keeping them on my mind. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray to You. Amen.