“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
— John 10:10 (NLT)
Our first family dog was a Dalmatian we named Oreo. She was a cute puppy, had the energy of five dogs, and was smart enough to teach herself how to open our back door. (I had to teach her how to close it. 😀)
We chose an invisible fence as the solution for keeping her in our yard, and she learned the established boundaries quickly.
An invisible fence is a hidden boundary buried underground that sends a warning signal to a dog’s collar as they approach the edge—first a beep, then a mild correction—teaching them where freedom ends without ever building a physical barrier. Think of it as freedom with guardrails: no walls, no gates, just a quiet, consistent reminder that keeps a dog safely home while convincing them the yard ends exactly where it should.
Reading, studying, and obeying Scripture is like an invisible fence for the soul. It’s one of the ways God extends freedom to us—with guardrails. When we stay inside those boundaries, we experience the rich and satisfying life He desires for us. Outside the guardrails of Scripture are the very things that harm the soul—the things our loving Father wants to protect us from.
The enemy of our souls is the thief Jesus warns us about in John 10:10—one who desires to steal, kill, and destroy us in this life and the next. He is a liar, an expert in deception, constantly trying to convince us that bad is good and good is bad. From the time of Adam and Eve, he has made attractive the very things that are deadly.
“Like gravity, God’s laws are in effect regardless of our personal knowledge, belief, or consent.”
A personal devil is not a popular construct in modern times. Pride can blind us to the danger that lurks beyond the guardrails of God’s immutable laws. Our loving God gives us the freedom to choose life or death—but make no mistake: like a good parent, His heart grieves when we choose to live outside freedom’s boundaries.
Like gravity, God’s laws are in effect regardless of our personal knowledge, belief, or consent. Biblical ignorance, along with intentional disobedience, is like living life without guardrails—the invisible fence of freedom removed. These are two sides of the enemy’s currency, which always trades in bondage—the original form of human trafficking.
Run the play… inside the rails.
Read, study, and follow the playbook. (The Bible.)
Enjoy your freedom.
Finding Our Place in the Story
- Where in my life am I most tempted to test or ignore God’s guardrails—and what story am I telling myself to justify it?
- How have I experienced God’s boundaries not as restriction, but as protection and freedom in the past?
- What practices could help me stay more attentive to the “warning beeps” of Scripture, conscience, and the Spirit before I cross a boundary?
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