26 February | Youth
«I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live.» Deuteronomy 30:16
It was a pleasant day, and the tour was going smoothly. A Polish couple, together with their 5- and 6-year-old children, admired the beauty of Cabo da Roca, a tourist attraction located about 30 kilometers from Lisbon, in Portugal. It is a cliff located by the sea, at an altitude of 80 meters, which receives thousands of visitors every year.
In order to get a better angle for a selfie, the couple went beyond the protection limit and ended up losing their balance, falling down the huge cliff. The young children witnessed the tragic accident. Due to the geological instability of the terrain, a helicopter and around 14 firefighters were called to remove the bodies. It was a day of great sadness, caused by an extremely trivial death.
Limits serve to protect us. That is why God left in His Word several “signs” that warn us about the danger of crossing the line between right and wrong. These are rules that indicate how far we can go in our relationship with God, with others and with the world around us. If we obey these divine commands, we will be safe.
I remember that at sundown worship at home, as a child, we recited the Ten Commandments by heart (Exod 20:1-17). Many Christians nowadays do not even know God's law, and they still claim that it is no longer necessary. By acting in this way, they go beyond the protection barrier and become vulnerable to the falls of sin.
When God says “thou shalt not commit adultery,” for example, He is preventing us from many problems, such as the disfigurement of His image in us. The Creator gave us the gift of procreation and the ability to experience sexual pleasure. However, when this intimacy is practiced outside of marriage, there is only confusion and distance from God.
How have you dealt with limits in this area of life? Watch your thoughts, looks and intentions (Matt 5:28). Seek purity and cry out to the Holy Spirit for deliverance. Remember that “without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14, NIV).