To Build A Wall - Part 1

Walls – sometimes we need to build them up, and sometimes we need to tear them down. When we experience relational pain, so many of us tend to build thick walls around our hearts to guard against more pain, only to find ourselves isolated, secluded, and lacking in true intimate relationships with anyone at all. And many others of us are committed to tearing down our walls, only to find ourselves attacked, unprotected, and vulnerable. One of the hardest decisions to make is determining when, and with whom, do we need to construct or deconstruct a wall. When should we build up walls, and when should we tear down those walls, and how in the world do we know the difference?

Scripture gives us beautiful pictures of when to build up walls, and also when to tear them down. I remember being in college right out of high school. At the time, I didn’t know Jesus personally, and Satan was doing a great job making sure things stayed that way. I was a single parent to an energetic and amazing toddler who was the light of my life. My parents were working out of state and would sometimes bring my little boy to California with them during the week so that I could go to school and work, and they could enjoy some uninterrupted grandparent time. It was a win, win for all of us, including Satan. This time as a childless teen was the perfect opportunity for Satan to introduce me to the sins of the world – bar hopping with my older friends (and my fake ID), meeting guys who were looking to “show me a good time,” entrenched in real life scenes riddled with all levels of sexual perversion and alcohol, just like in the movies. You must, of course, add the jealousy, and the pride, and the self-centeredness, and the anger and bitterness and cattiness that comes with all of these “fun” activities, and you have a ripe and delicious sin salad. Poisonous, and yet sweet tasting, just like the apple in the Garden of Eden. It was certainly Satan’s playground, and I was playing hard.

Then reality would hit when I would go get my beautiful little boy at my parents’ house and see those eyes looking for me to teach him about all the wonders of life. I would take him to the beach and see God’s creation singing loudly in all its glory. We would splash in the water, and find seashells, and watch the seagulls swoop down to catch their dinner. We would eat ice-cream cones, and build sand-castles, and laugh and play – pure, unadulterated joy. And I would privately loathe my lifestyle back home; yet the moment I was there without my son, I was back doing the same things. It was fun, and I hated it at the same time. What was I doing? I needed to be focused on creating a stable home for my little boy. I needed to be focused on getting through school so that I could teach my baby boy strong values, good morals. And yet, all I was doing was spending my time away from him playing in Satan’s playground, over and over again.

All throughout scripture, God provides us with wall-building materials to protect us from the sins of the world. Wall-building against the devil’s schemes is crucial. In Ephesians 6:10-18, the Apostle Paul describes the most effective and strongest building blocks ever to shield us – the Armor of God. He tells us in verse 11 to “put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” He informs us that our biggest struggles in this world are against the powers of Satan, not against flesh and blood, and he goes on to describe each piece of armor that creates a solid wall against the sins and darkness of the world. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Verses 14-17)

This wall was planned and orchestrated beautifully by our God through the mouth of Paul. It symbolized protection and safety from the influences of the outside world. Each piece of armor is a gigantic block of protection – truth in who we are in Christ, righteousness provided by the blood of Jesus on the cross, the ability to rely on and live in peace because of Jesus, and even a mustard seed size of faith in our Savior has the power to thwart any plans of the enemy. We know, without a doubt, that when we put our faith and trust in Jesus, we will wear the helmet of salvation, and carry the sword of the Spirit with us at all times. Each piece of armor is given freely and generously, handed over without need of payment, by our God who loves us and desperately wants to protect us from the evil in this world, but Who also insists on giving us free will. Will we choose to take refuge behind this supernatural, armored wall?

Erecting walls made out of these blocks protect us from the worldly influences and are healthy, and necessary. As I sit in my office, or in my home watching the news, or scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, I see the culture and climate of the secular world and realize that there has never been more need for walls around us than now. Without the building blocks of God’s armor to protect us from the influences of the world, we are vulnerable, and defenseless, and open to attack. Under intense attack, we are likely to succumb to the pressures of the world. I know. I did succumb, and it wreaked much havoc in my early adult life.

Scripture provides numerous other ways to protect ourselves from the outside world. Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” First Corinthians 5:9-11 instructs us to build walls around sin and sinful people. “I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, and idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” In this passage, Paul is talking about building walls between us and others in the church that are actively, intentionally engaging in sinful behavior. Scripture is clear that we are to love those hard to love, but we also must build walls between us to create a safety net from temptation, not allowing them into our closest circle of friends. We are to be there for them, model Christlike behavior to them, but not engage in the sins with them – build a wall to protect ourselves from their sins.

These examples, and many more in Scripture, are the wall-building materials that God provides to us to protect us from the influences of the outside world. The Apostle Paul gives us more wall-building materials when he tells us in Philippians 4:8, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Once again, renewing the mind and building protective walls involves taking control of our thoughts.

So, when should we build up walls? When relationships or the sins of the world threaten to overtake us, walls must go up.

Where are the places in your life where walls need to go up?

Join me next week to talk about tearing down walls…when do we do that?