Guardrails

"Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,making the most of your time, because the days are evil."- Ephesians 5:15-16

      I heard a preacher on TV a few weeks ago talking about guardrails.As I half listened and half didn't pay attention I was impressed by his explanation of the need for a "guardrail" in a Christian's live. At that moment I kind of blew it off, but for probably the past week and a half it keeps popping up in my head. Let's examine what a guardrail actually is. It is an ugly, beat-up, rusty piece of unattractive metal. That piece of metal seems pretty useless to the average driver. However, to the tired, distracted, or out of control driver that hunk of metal becomes the defining line between life and death. You see that curved hardware is what is protecting you from tumbling down an embankment to possibly your tragic death. When you hit the guardrail, yes, you may be sore the next morning, your car is a bit scratched up, and you are a little distressed, but you are safe and you get to walk away without any permanent damage. Now that a guardrail is explained that way that piece of rusty, ugly metal seems really beneficial to a driver and its passenger.
     The more I thought about it the more I wondered why Christians feel it isn't necessary to have a guardrail in their life. Marriages, friendships, and ministries end simply because they decided they were too good for a guardrail and when they got DISTRACTED or TIRED they fall down father then they should have ever. Driving could be alluded to our walk with Christ. At times its' beautiful, fast, and filled with loud singing and joy. On the opposing end our walk can be tiresome, long, gets us in trouble with our authority, and potentially dangerous. For those long and dark road trips that is why we must have guardrails ready. When things aren't perfect with the spouse and you see another church goer's spouse treating them much better than you feel your spouse is (which if you think about it their willingness to have an affair just shows that their home life is not as perfect as it seems.), when you're home alone with nothing else to do and the computer or movie calls your name, when you're somewhere that you know you shouldn't be and temptation winks its enticing eyes at you, the need for guardrails is detrimental. The purpose of a "guardrail" in a Christian's walk is that when your heart grows fonder of another person other than your spouse and you hit that guardrail you wake up, swerve out of the way, and get back on track without any real damage. Yes, it may hurt, it may be uncomfortable, but you have not sinned and you can return your heart back to God easier than if you would have fell.
     In my life it has been impressed upon me heavily that in ministry and in life to have those guardrails and to stick by them. For my life I try my hardest to be above reproach so that nothing ill can be spoken about me and my intentions. I've seen too many affairs, divorces, and lost ministries because of a lack of boundaries. Why Christian can quote but not understand that we must, "be alert and of sober mind.Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seek for whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) is beyond me. As Christians I believe we can know and memorize scripture but not live out and understand the meaning behind them, thus making them useless and powerless in our lives. My heart breaks and my spirit is grieved for this lack of knowledge that has convicted, guarded, and protected me from the snare of the enemy. It is imperative that we as Christians never cease to pray and seek God in everything. It is too late in the game and too costly to just be that Sunday Christian and not be a Soldier and Slave for Christ. Realize that the Enemy is standing next to you now waiting for your spirit-man to become tired and wary and at that very moment they Army that is after you to steal, kill, and destroy you is ready to throw you down that embankment. The guardrail is there for your safety and protection against the enemy. Also, God is faithful to your guardrail and when you even start to drift and slip He convict you even before the guardrail is in sight.
      I challenge and pray that the men and women of the Body of Christ grasp the need for guardrails to protect them from the hunger of the Devil's stomach for the blood of believers. The Devil in these last days is after the anointed. He is after the ministries, marriages, and souls of praying, steadfast, warring Christians.So be challenged and praying for where God wants your guardrail, and whatever He says it's not because He is a strict unfair God, but simply to protect you from pain, shame, and misery.

 "He who walks with the wise grows wise,but a companion of fools suffers harm."Proverbs 13:20