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The Fence

There is a fence, a barrier to those who are called
Caged in- looking at the mountain of freedom
Bounded by posts, barbed wire and mesh
A padlocked gate barring the way out
No way over, under, or around
“The chains that protect us, that keep the wolves out”
Or do they keep the called out from going out?

Does it seem a straight jacket of conformity?
Tightly buckled, restrained, strapped about
Wriggling, struggling, trying to break free
Flailing arms, bound, gagged, forces greater than ourselves
Like gravity, drowning in a current pulling ever downwards
Jumping, swimming, twisting, grasping
Fearing a moment of rest will destroy our souls

Those that choose to relax in the green mown grass
The cool ‘bypass meadow’ the ease of unquestioning submission
Order and tidiness, not a thing out of place
No need of effort, no challenge, enveloping emptiness
Shackled to the prisons of spiritual sophistication,
Spoon fed, like overgrown lambs nudging for their mother’s milk
Ever learning but never finding the revelation of salvation

The fence holding us back preventing us from escape
The fence of relations, family, friends, pleasures, fears, goals
All restraining us from the calling of the freedom of El Shaddai
So laying aside the weight and those things that hinder us
Letting the Spirit lead wherever He wills
Putting our hand to the plough, leaving all our comforts behind us
To follow His leading on the blood stained path.

The rugged natural beauty beyond the divide
The artistic hand of God’s tender embrace
Peaceful, uncontaminated, not touched by man
The thrill of walking in His steps, His divine will
The challenge, the exhilaration, the anticipation
The exertion, the battle, the struggle, the hope
Not beating the air but pressing onward to the lofty goal

The deep that calls to the deep of our soul
Restless spirit longing for the paths of righteousness
Wanting to walk free with God - unhindered
The soul that yearns for the water brooks
And pants for the cool fresh running stream
That desires the manna that is sent from heaven
That craves God, the living God

When He calls His own by name who can stop Him from leading them out?
By His grace He gives the strength to leap over the wall
He gives the key, the courage to unlock the gate
He brakes down the partitioning walls, sends His angel to open the prison doors
He puts the clay on our blind eyes and sends us to wash
He proclaims the liberty to the captives, sounds the horn of Jubilee
And leads them out, those who seek the city whose builder and maker is God.

22 September 2006

While on vacation at a motor-camp I really wanted to climb this hill behind the camp but couldn’t because of the fence (see pictures below). So you end up with this meditation instead.
  

References:
Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Gen 17:1  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God [El Shaddai]; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Luk 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luk 18:28  Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
Bypass Meadow and Giant Despair – Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Mat 14:28  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Joh 21:22  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Psa 42:2  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Psa 84:2  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
Luk 9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Psa 18:29  For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. .... It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
Isa 61:1  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Act 12:7  And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
Lev 25:9  Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
Heb 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
 © Stephen Share 2006

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