Boundaries are negative – so think many people.  That is unless you are on a narrow mountain-side road at night.  Then boundaries, seen as painted lines & guardrails, are good.  They are your friend.

There is much controversy these days about the southern border/boundary of the U.S. and how individuals cross over it.  But putting politics aside, there is a basic & succinct set of parameters that are good for all people.  Western civilization is built upon them.

We are all grateful for stop lights at busy intersections.  We trust in the mechanisms and the software that regulate the lights.  We believe that when we approach the intersection, all the motorist from other directions will heed the command of the light in front of them.  We trust the hardware, the software, and the decisions of our fellow drivers.  And unless there’s an equipment malfunction or a human violation, it all works, allowing you to safely sail through the crossroads.  We are glad for these regulations and boundaries, even if we occasionally press the gas on a stale yellow light (aka ‘a violation’).

One major problem of our society is that when we promote the rules of life listed below — innate to every individual in some way-shape-form — we are shamed into silence if we have violated even one of them.  We feel that we are unqualified to tell anyone else about them since we do not live by them perfectly throughout our 75+ years of life.  But they still stand and call to us, no matter the individual.

For the self-made people in our world who ‘do everything on their own,’ who acknowledge nothing greater than themselves, they would do us all a favor to honor the boundaries listed below.  These bring a richness to life that cannot be found when they are wantonly violated.  They bring health to societies that follow them, even if there are failures along the way.  Were the average person to sincerely ‘try to’ live by them, there would be true World Peace, even if the yellow lights were sometimes run.

Here they are, originated by our Creator, though translated through many centuries & many languages.  But we know from archeological evidence that they are trustworthy and communicate what He wrote.  And they work.

1) “I am the Lord your God, You shall have no other gods before Me.”

2) “You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness.
You shall not worship them nor serve them.”

3) “You shall not use the name of the LORD your God flippantly, mockingly,
or profanely.”

4) “Remember the Sabbath day of the week and to keep it holy.”

5) “Honor your father and your mother.”

6) “You shall not commit murder.”

7) “You shall not commit adultery.”

8) “You shall not steal.”

9) “You shall not lie.”

10) “You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

These are summarized and condensed.  For a full reading of them, click here.

Your comments are welcomed.  jrw

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