Boundaries Which Cannot be Crossed

In the Word of God we find a number of boundaries that God has set. Man has crossed some of those boundaries, but there are some very firm boundaries beyond which man cannot go. We would like to consider some of these boundaries—boundaries which man cannot cross, or, if he does cross them, there are very serious consequences.
The first boundary was the flaming sword which guarded the Garden of Eden. Man had sinned, and could no longer enter in the state of innocence that had existed before. Although man’s exclusion from the garden seemed like a punishment, it was actually a blessing to him, for it prevented him from eating of the tree of life, and then living forever in a sinful state. We read that there were “Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” (Gen. 3:2424So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24)). Later man would be permitted to eat of the tree of life, but only after having a new life in Christ.
Mount Sinai
Later, when the law was given at Mount Sinai, God’s power and majesty were clearly seen. No doubt it was a frightening thing for those Israelites to see the manifestations of God’s power, and they were not allowed to approach the mount, “And Moses said unto the Lord ... for Thou chargest us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it” (Ex. 19:2323And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. (Exodus 19:23)). All that accompanied the giving of the law—the thunder, the lightnings, the fire and smoke, and the voice of the trumpet, reminded the people of the seriousness of dealing with Jehovah. If any had dared to break through and gaze, they would have perished.
Later still, the Lord wanted to dwell among His people, and asked them to build Him a house. He said, “Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Ex. 25:88And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8)). First of all, while they were in the wilderness, they had the tabernacle. Then, when they were in the land of Canaan; Solomon built the temple. But in both the tabernacle and the temple, there were bounds beyond which man could not go. None but the priests could enter the tabernacle or the temple, and none but the high priest could enter the holiest of all. Also, he could go in only once a year, on the day of atonement, and with blood, to make atonement for the sins of the people. All these restrictions reminded the people of the holiness of God, and also that the work of redemption was not complete.
When we come to the New Testament, we know that “our Savior Jesus Christ ... brought to light life and incorruptibility by the glad tidings” (2 Tim. 1:1010But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:10) JND). The full light of what happens after death has been brought out. In Luke 16:19-3119There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:19‑31) we read the story of the rich man and Lazarus, where God, as it were, draws aside the curtain to let us see what happens after death. The story is given to us in Jewish terms, but what God is revealing to us is clear.
The Great Gulf
In the dialogue between the rich man (in hades) and Abraham (representing the place of those who had new life), we find another boundary. When the rich man asked that Lazarus might come and dip his finger in water, to cool his tongue, the answer was, “Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (Luke 16:2626And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. (Luke 16:26)). The souls and spirits of those who had died in faith and of those who had died without Christ could not mingle with one another. How very solemn!
More than this, and along the same line, we read in Revelation 1:1818I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18) JND that the Lord Jesus has “the keys of death and of hades.” Death refers to the body without the soul and spirit, while hades refers to the condition of a soul and spirit without a body. Down through the ages, men have tried to penetrate these two spheres of existence, but with Satanic power. They cannot in reality penetrate these areas, for only the Lord Jesus has the keys. Anything that Satan can do is always a counterfeit, and is often used to deceive relatives and acquaintances. But the voice they hear is that of a demon, and not a dead relative. This kind of thing goes all the way back to King Saul of Israel, and his encounter with the witch of Endor to make people think that they are communicating with the dead. However, in that case the Lord did allow Samuel to appear, and that is why the witch “cried with a loud voice.” She was seeing something that she was not accustomed to seeing. Normally she would have seen only a demonic apparition.
Firm Boundaries
There are two other boundaries we might mention, one that speaks to our consciences, and the other to our hearts. The first one concerns discipleship, and the Lord Jesus mentions it in speaking to multitudes that followed Him. He reminded them that while salvation was free, discipleship was costly. Three times over in Luke 14 he puts conditions on discipleship, ending with the remark, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:3333So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)). The boundary here is clear. Those who wanted to be the Lord’s disciples could not cross that boundary unless they were willing to fulfil the conditions. This speaks to each one of us.
Finally, we read that the Lord has promised that He will “shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” But we are reminded that this is done in order that “what is not shaken may remain.” Also, we are to receive “a kingdom not to be shaken” (Heb. 12:26-2826Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:26‑28) JND). When the Lord shakes both the earth and the heaven in judgment — those “things that are made” — there is a boundary that the judgment cannot cross. That kingdom, the everlasting moral kingdom of God, can never be touched. It is ours for all eternity.
W. J. Prost