landmarks

This morning I awoke with some images I had dreamed. I had dreamed about a treasure hunter looking for treasure. The treasure hunter knew where to look and entered a large stone place. The first room had a large wall that had some writing and while I could not read it, I knew immediately it was what he was looking for. The writings told him this was the place. The treasure hunter, however, ignored the writings and kept going. He went further into the place and searched and searched. He became more desperate and more frustrated with each room coming up empty. I kept hoping he would go back to the wall with the writing. Finally, he began to walk back and actually read the writing. He realized he had the answers he was seeking. He found the place with the treasure he was seeking. It had been in the first room all along and he had chosen not to believe it was that easy, that the treasure was right there.

As I thought about this, I heard God remind me of the old landmarks. I heard him remind me that the landmarks of those before us are important to remember. We have been taught landmarks by those before us. God spoke of landmarks in His word.

Proverbs 22: 28
Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.

Jeremiah 31:21
"Set up signposts, Make landmarks; Set your heart toward the highway, The way in which you went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel, Turn back to these your cities.

Deuteronomy 19:14 “You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

Many of us have had parents, grandparents and church leaders who have set before us some landmarks. The Word of God contains landmarks. Landmarks are set for a purpose to be a permanent reminder of where the boundaries begin and end. We all have seen fences. I remember growing up, that when we went out to play, Mom would tell us to not go out of the gate. If we did, we knew we were in trouble. I have set boundaries for my own children.

God has set landmarks, or boundaries for His children. He has set them there, for our protection, our safety, to lead us and guide us. The landmarks are there to keep us in His care and provide us the treasure of His love and relationship.

Many people have looked past those landmarks. Many have tried to find the treasures that would take the place of God’s love and safety. Many people are searching for things that can only truly be found in God. They have forgotten the landmarks or were maybe never taught the landmarks. Too many people are looking for peace, love and joy in places outside of God. There are some who have attempted to move the landmarks and change them to fit the lifestyle they want to live. They have attempted to say that God’s landmarks are false, not for today, old-fashioned and unimportant. There are those who have declared new landmarks.

God is calling His people to remember the landmarks in His Word. He is calling us to put the landmarks back in place. He is calling us to set up the signposts and set our hearts back in line with His Word. His word makes it clear in Deuteronomy 27:17 that those who move the landmarks and remove them will be cursed. They will strive for food, clothes, blessings, and peace yet find unfulfillment and cursing. God set up landmarks for us to know Him and relate to Him and He does not look kindly on those who ignore and remove the landmarks.

I can imagine anyone who owns a home or land can understand that you would not want your neighbor moving into the property you own. You would not want your walls or fences moved to change the boundaries of your home or property. God has set landmarks and boundaries to lay and mark His claim on His people. He lays claim to our souls. He lays claim for himself and He is not happy to have someone else try to claim His blood-bought children. He bought us with a price and He has every right to claim what is His. Have we ignored the boundaries God has placed in our lives? Lord, bring us back to the landmarks, back to our first love. Lord, bring your people back to the place you intended for your people. What are the landmarks? Read the bible. It is full of landmarks. God will show you when you allow Him to have full reign of your life.

Start with prayer. Prayer is landmark that cannot be removed. Prayer is essential for knowing God and hearing His voice.

Keep the landmarks before you and teach them to your children. God will honor those who know His landmarks and obey His word.  Go back to the landmarks found God's Word