The Guards

I was rereading the story of the crucifixion and the resurrection. As I read, I began thinking about the guards and their role in the salvation story. I thought about how the temple guards came to arrest the Innocent Messenger. I thought about the guards who were responsible for watching the Prophetic Prisoner and I thought about the Roman guards assigned the most impossible of tasks---- make sure the Dead Messiah stayed dead. Each guard was given a job--a very specific job. That assignment was their focus of the day. Theoretically, it was the only thing on their minds. They were not to be thinking about dinner, vacation or the long walk home. They were to focus only on the prisoner and each knew that guarding Him was a matter of life and death.
I also thought about the most famous guards of our time--the guards at Buckingham Palace. Much has been made over the discipline and unwavering single-mindedness of these guards. These guards stand in their crisp, full-dress red uniforms with their red tunics and bearskins. Countless visitors come to see the palace and many make it their goal to distract the palace guards. They try to make them laugh, flinch, move, smile, etc. I would imagine a few are successful. But I have been told that these guards are so focused on the job of guarding the sovereign that it is extremely difficult to distract them. These men are more than ceremonial figureheads, they are true soldiers, known for their bravery and valor and they are charged with but one task, protect the Queen.
We also are assigned the role of guard. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life." Our responsibility is just as sobering as that of the guards mentioned above. We are to be single-mindedly focused on protecting our heart. We are to let nothing by us that might be detrimental to our hearts. This would include what television and movies we watch, which cd's and radio stations we listen to, how much gossip we soak up, how much joking and coarse jesting we participate in and how many immoral or ungodly thoughts we entertain. Our task is huge, but it truly is a matter of life and death. The wise king reminds us that our heart is the wellspring of life. If a wellspring is tainted it no longer brings forth life but sickness and death. The New Testament admonishes us that it is our heart that determines our character. We are told that as a man thinketh so is he and that out of our heart our words flow. It does not take but a drop of poison in a gallon of water to make one ill. Likewise, "just a little bit" of sin will contaminate the soul.
We have been given a task, a job, an assignment. We are to be alert, stand watch over, guard and protect our hearts. We must hold unswervingly to our task--guard our hearts. It truly is a matter of life and death!

Peace
Neva