Hold on to this
Hold on to this …
Proverbs 22:28
I heard a story this past week of a young girl on a family vacation in Vienna. The family visited many famous landmarks and old Churches but on the last day of vacation they made a special stop at a museum that was said to be home to Beethoven’s Grand Piano. The tour guide led the group of visitors to the place where the prized piano is on display.
The little girl quickly asked the tour guide, “O, can I play the piano?” Before the guide could respond, the girl climbed over the barrier and began playing her little ditty of ‘Chopsticks’. Quite shocked by what was happening, the guide just continued his discussion. “Several years ago, the great pianist Paderewski made a trip just to see this great piano.” The little girl suddenly stopped … “Did Mr. Paderewski also get to play the piano?” No, replied the guide … he said he was not worthy.
Perhaps this is an interesting picture of today … it seems like there is a motto today that goes something like this … rules were made to be _____ broken. Those things that we used to hold as ‘sacred’ … those boundaries that we used to hold as true … they have for some reason lost value. And like the little girl who jumps the boundary to play ‘Chopsticks’, we too crash through the boundaries that God has given us because it feels right or because … no ones going to tell me what to do. I would like us to look at one verse this morning and it is this … “Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.”
So here’s my question this morning … is there anything that is sacred anymore? Is there anything worth holding on to today … anything? Let’s pray.
The Word of God is Still a Sacred Boundary Stone
It is amazing to me that so many people think they know Christianity … even call themselves ‘Christian’ and don’t even know what’s in the pages of God’s Word. Many people don’t know 5 of the Ten Commandments. Out of 18,000 University students surveyed, 16,000 of them couldn’t name the four gospels, and 10,000 of them couldn’t name three of the twelve disciples.
But in spite of ignorance and scepticism, the truth of God’s Word is still an ancient boundary stone that should not be moved.
God’s Word is a sacred boundary because God is the author
· Read 2 Timothy 3:16
God’s Word is a sacred boundary because the Holy Spirit used men
· Read 2 Peter 1:20-21
· The words contained in the book are literally breathed-out by God. Common men wrote under the divine influence of the Holy Spirit
God’s Word is a sacred boundary because it will last forever
· Read 2 Peter 1:23-24
· A novel might last for a generation or two. A great poem or a play may even last a few hundred years … but the Word of God will last forever because truth is eternal
o Matthew 24:35 says …
The Word of God is Still a Sacred Boundary and we must hold onto it!
!! The Christian Home is Still a Sacred Boundary Stone
Regardless of the way the TV and movies may treat the family and the home … the home is still a boundary that God has set up and we should not mess with it!
The Home is Sacred because God Created it as a Boundary for Living
· Look at Genesis 2:21-25
· The home was the first institution created by God. No modern-day human plan to bypass or substitute the home will ever be as good as God set it up.
The home is sacred because God blesses it
o Look at Genesis 1:25-28 says that all that God made, he blesses
o Listen … if God has blessed it, who are we to mess with it?
The Church is Still a Sacred Boundary Stone
The Church was instituted by God to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world. Do you know anyone who is lonely? That’s why the Church is here! Do you know anyone who is hungry? That’s why the Church is here! Do you know anyone who is lost or in prison or hurting … That’s why the Church is here!
· The Church is Sacred because God chose us … (Ephesians 1:4-6)
· The Church is Sacred because Jesus is its founder … (Matthew 16:13-19)
· The Church is Sacred because the Holy Spirit fills it … (Acts 2:1-4)
Hold on to this …
Proverbs 22:28 says this … Do not move an sacred boundary stone set up by your forefathers. Hold on to the Word of God … it will give you life! Hold on to the Christian Home … it will bring you safety. And hold on to the Church … it is the instrument of God to Change the world.