Godly Guardrails & Freedom Fences

Have you ever heard someone speak of God’s law as freeing? The Holy Spirit Himself, through James’ epistle, speaks of “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25). Or perhaps someone would say something like, “A home or society without law is a home or society of slavery. But one built upon Biblical principles is one that’s free.” – What in the world does that mean? How do laws make one free?

Does a dog inside his master’s fenced yard of 3 acres feel free compared to his canine neighbors inside their master’s 20 acres? Well, if the former is a single German Schnauzer and the neighbors are a couple German Shepherds, the 3 acres suddenly become quite spacious as opposed to 2 cubic feet inside of a box that is a few feet under the dirt. The fence is not keeping the good dog from getting out and being free as much as it is keeping the bad dogs from getting in and being destructive.

Another thing that laws do is provide a distinct boundary between those areas that are safe and those that are not. When driving along the road on the side of a steep mountain, I do not view the guardrail as restrictive. I am very glad it’s there. I do not fear for my life as long as I stay on the mountain-side of the guardrail. On the other side of the guardrail, driving and even living likely become much more difficult. I recently rammed into a guardrail when I lost control of my pickup truck on an icy road. The truck was somewhat damaged and a couple passengers bruised, but generally, by God’s grace, our lives and health were spared. The guardrail served its purpose.

God’s laws are meant for a similar purpose. When we are headed in the wrong direction, God’s laws smack us in the face and say, “Where do you think you’re going? There’s nothing but danger, death, and destruction outside of faith in Christ and faithfulness to His commandments.”

So God’s laws are a matter of protection from that which would harm and destroy, and they are a call back to faithfully abiding in Christ – and that is freeing! – Romans 8:2 states, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”