A BIRD lover had two pairs of pet pigeons. There were two baby pigeons in each family and they lived side by side in two little houses the man had made for them.
One day while his parents were away gathering food one of the baby pigeons fell out of his nest down onto the ground. He was not hurt but he could not get back to his nest again. The owner finding him on the grass picked him up and put him back in his nest again.
Now the parents in the other pigeon house were at home when this happened and it seemed as if they said to themselves: “One of our babies might fall out in the same way, and we must do something to make things safer for them.”
So this wise father and mother went to work, and bringing sticks and straw to their doorway they built a cunning little fence across the front of their nest. It was not so high that the little pigeons could not look over it, but it was high enough to keep them from falling down off their little porch. All the while the man was watching what went on so you will know that this is a true story.
Long ago God told His people, “When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon-thine house, if any man fall from thence.” Deut. 22:88When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence. (Deuteronomy 22:8). In those days, as in eastern countries even now, many homes have a flat roof, and many a delightful hour the family might spend there. However, this area could be the scene of a sad and even fatal accident if not properly safeguarded, so the roof must be protected by a battlement, or railings all around it, to make it a safe place.
Now the house in Scripture in one way speaks of the home and we are to provide safeguards to prevent spiritual accidents from taking place there, for the Christian is seen as having been saved out of this world and called to live above and apart from its sin and darkness.
The first great safeguard is to take the Lord Himself into our hearts and homes, to make Him the honored Guest there, and to order our lives so that He will be glad to come and stay.
Another battlement, or guard, is faithful reading the Word of God and this will build us up in our faith. Diligent searching the Word and meditation will also keep us from falling into errors and the many pitfalls Satan has put along our way.
Then comes prayer — another important safeguard without which there can be no power to walk pleasing to the Lord.
These are brought together in Jude 20,2120But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 20‑21): “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
ML-05/27/1973