Walls....

I went to revival tonight at a friends church and the evangelist preached out of Proverbs chapter 24 starting in verse 30 and one of the things he touched on was how the walls were broken down. He said that a wall in the Bible is always a sign of security and protection. He explained how that Solomon noticed #1. the Condition of the field and vineyard #2. the Character of the man. #3. The cost. The man was lazy. So lazy in fact that he had become complacent and didn't even recognize how bad the fields were or that the wall was broken down and because of it, things that the wall was meant to keep out, were getting in and things that were behind the wall, were now getting out.

My mind wandered to the story of job and how God had a "hedge" about him. I know we are to inspect our hedge....it is our job. God puts it there but we are to maintain it. Making sure there are no cracks that satan can get in. My mind then went to the story of Nehemiah as he was rebuilding the wall at Jerusalem and I couldn't help but remember how he wept when he heard the condition of the wall. He confessed the people's sin and how they had failed God and he included himself in that confession. He then traveled to Jerusalem and began the work of rebuilding the wall. However, there was great opposition and he ended up literally having to work with one hand and hold a sword to fight in the other. Wow....what a picture of how satan does not want us to rebuild! If we are foolish enough to become complacent in our lives and let our wall down....let the world in and let us out into the world then satan will fight tooth and nail to keep us from rebuilding. It will be hard, discouraging and exhausting. It can be done with the Lord's help but how much easier it is to inspect regularly and handle the little things while they are just that "little". Confess our sins, have the desire to live consecrated lives and pray daily for God to search our hearts and show us if there be any wicked way in us. I don't want to look back at what it might cost me for not being faithful. Let us also be thankful for the walls of protection and security he has placed in our lives and let us be faithful to do the maintenance!