Who’s Guarding the Guard?

We have heard it said that life doesn’t come with a manual or instructions … and it’s impossible to live a life free from mistakes and wrong turns. But as most of us have come to realize that mistakes are costly even though we can learn from the lessons.

There’s a children’s song based on a dialogue between two persons called Henry and Liza … the song is, ‘There’s a hole in My Bucket’ and it’s pretty much a heated dialogue between Henry who has a leaky bucket, and Liza who tells him to fix it.

How do we fix a leaky bucket in a marriage? What is the next step after crying about the milk that spilled? Can we recover after our mistakes? Is it true that life doesn’t come with a manual or instructions? I think that God will be sloppy or inconsiderate to send us to earth without instructions.

One day as I pondered on what I thought was the greatest excuse in life for failing grades —‘Life didn’t come with a manual’ … my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of me turning my pages in the Bible. I paused and thought to myself that it’s been over 2000 years that these instructions about life were written. Then it dawned on me that we humans had the lamest excuse of all times.

The Bible has many interesting characters that will fit right into today’s society like: Abraham -Was old before he had his promised child. Elijah – Was suicidal. Joseph – Was abused. Job – Went bankrupt. Moses – Had a speech problem. Gideon – Was afraid. Samson – Was a womanizer. Rahab – Was a prostitute. Just to name a few interesting characters.

When I mean the Bible has EVERYTHING pertaining to life … I mean EVERYTHING. So, it’s inaccurate to say that we did not have a manual or instructions … God is not sloppy or inconsiderate to send us without instructions. It’s more accurate to say we did not read the manual.

The Bible says that when the HEAD of the home is FULLY armed, and he GUARDS his own home everything will be SAFE. But IF someone stronger than him attacks the home and conquers … he takes his security in which he trusted and divides the belongings.

Our homes can be a safe place when we give Jesus Christ permission to be The Head and to rule in the affairs of our homes. Everything remains safe from someone stronger and more powerful attempting to break in and divide us.

When we do things that are pleasing in our own eyes … it becomes dangerous and someone stronger comes and steals all that we have toiled and labored for. What happens in the privacy of our homes determines who is standing guard at the door.

If I’m asked what the biggest decision any family can make … my answer will be found in Ecclesiastes 4:12 “One can be overpowered, but two together can put up resistance. A three-ply cord doesn’t easily snap.” Jesus, you and your spouse make up the three-ply cord that will hold your entire world together.

When trouble arises and they will … we look to Jesus Christ who is stationed at the entrance of the home with over 2000 years of experience and has an excellent track record. Jesus says, “In this world you will ALWAYS have trouble. But take heart! I have OVERCOME this world.”

Big trouble, little trouble … we all will have trouble … God’s Word is clear. There will be trouble … but TAKE HEART! Jesus Christ has overcome the world. Life did come with instructions but we didn’t spend time to read the manual. Unless the LORD builds the home we labor in vain. Unless the LORD keeps watch, the security company watches in vain. Know who’s guarding the guard.