Spring is here mostly. In Kansas it will vary one day to the next, but things are beginning to bud out. If you are like me, you are tackling yard maintenance while it is cool and before it gets out of hand. One thing I’m installing because it is greatly needed, is edging to separate mulch from grass. Without a barrier, keeping the grass out of the mulch and the mulch out of the grass is extremely difficult (at best). Last year I tried to weed eat the grass back, and I either scalped the grass or shot mulch everywhere. (I understand some of you are better weed eaters than me.) Barriers to provide separation are a very good thing.  

That is true spiritually as well. I’m grieved by many who imply they aren’t tempted by the weeds of the world. They think they can keep the weeds back from crossing into their lives. But from simple observation, it ain’t working too well for them. The spiritual slide is slow, and seems to be unnoticed by them, or they might make some drastic changes. 

In Deut. 7, God gave instructions for what Israel was to do when it went into the land the Lord was giving them. They were to remove all the people and everything that would draw their hearts away from God and to the wickedness of the world. “But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire” (Deuteronomy 7:5). The God Who created us knows our nature and how easily we are drawn to wickedness. Think about it. Here was a people who witnessed firsthand God’s power and holiness. If anyone could have stood strong, resisted evil, and been steadfast in love and devotion to God, it would have been them. But no. God said they weren’t to allow the influences around them or it would pull them away from Him. 

Then how can we, my brothers, think we are strong enough to resist the pull of the world, if we don’t have a clear separation between us and it. Oh the addicting affect of the world on not only us but on our children. The worst of the worst is then losing our children to the world.