Old landmarks

 What is a landmark?

According to Mr. Webster, a landmark is...

a mark to designate the boundary of land; any mark or fixed object; as a marked tree, stone, ditch or heap of stones, by which the limits of a farm, town or other portion of territory may be known and preserved. In Deu 19.14 the wise man wrote thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's landmark. 

America

Another definition explains that in navigation, it could be an  elevated object on land that serves as a guide to seamen. 

France

The second definition is my favorite, "a guide."  

You probably recognize each landmark noted in the photos. Whether you ever actually visit them, odds are you would know the location without the captions.

So, you believe we do not need all the "old-fashioned" way of doing things?

It is understandable when a child begins to grow, mature and observe the world around him, "new" things and ideas may seem best.  

However, the "old" ways were once new.  

Israel

When one remembers Gen 1.1, in the beginning God... , there is a whole different "spin" on anything "new" one learns.

Australia

England

The wise man also told us in Proverbs 22.28, Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.  

without lady liberty

Then, the question becomes, "what would happen if one DID remove the ancient landmark?  For example, for 140 years the Statue of Liberty has stood to guide scores of people from other lands to our blessed country.  If "she" had not been there, what would they have seen looking at the photo to the right? Pretty unremarkable, right?  Since she has been a beacon of hope for those leaving impoverished lands, what would hope, then, look like? In a word, "bleak, even hopeless."

So we may conclude that, "landmarks are important."  

The Psalmist penned, by unction of the Holy Ghost, Thou are my rock and my fortress, therefore for Thy Names sake lead me, and guide me. (Psa 31.3) Then in 32.8 he says, I will guide thee with Mine eye. In 25.9 the Lord gives us, the meek will He guide in judgment...and teach His way. You have also heard this famous Psalm 119.105, Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Darkness and stumbling is all you would have left without Him as Light and Guide.

Many other verses could be quoted to indicate how important "landmarks" are.  Whatever, good things you've brought with you to this post, especially from the things of God, keep them.  Pass them on.

I've often quoted others before now while "gathering" landmark treasures. Such things as, 

• "grit with my grace," 
• "God gave us common sense." 
• "Locks are to keep the intruder out, not keep the occupant of the house in." 
• "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." (Psa 150.6) "Put your hand on your tummy, if you are breathing, you should be praising.
• You believe all things work together for (your) good, don't you? (Rom 8.28) Then He is working it out for your good and His glory

So, you see, landmarks are important as guides in this wicked world.  

What landmarks have guided your life?

God bless and take care, dear reader.

Foolishness

Foolishness is bound in he heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. (Pro 22.15)

Don't spank him but correct him unless this is the third time!

Was he told not to play with the ball in the house?
Correction must follow.

For the preaching of the cross is the that perish foolishness: but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (I Cor 1.18)

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (Job 1.22)

The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. (Psa 5.5)

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God...(Psa 14.1)

Webster says that a fool is "one destitute of reason or the common powers of understanding."  A fool could also be described as one somewhat deficient of intellect or acts absurdly without reason but is not necessarily an idiot. In scripture, fool is often used for a wicked or depraved person who acts contrary to sound wisdom or moral deportment.

When examining the first verse noted in Pro 22.15 regarding foolishness, one could compare the lack of training in a child to that of an immature or disobedient believer.

Children simply do not know better, usually, when caught in a foolish act.  Instruction that "The stove is hot" means nothing until that little hand touches the hot stove eye and realizes what the grownup said was true!  Do they learn better?  Sometimes it takes a few burnt hands to understand the truth. As baby, juvenile and immature believers, sometimes it take a long time to realize what God said in His Word about sin in any form, is true! 

Did God mean what He said?

When we disobey, repeatedly, what we are really admitting is found in Psa 14.1; There is no God... We would never utter the phrase out loud but often our behavior says exactly that.  One may think "I know stealing is wrong BUT the office will never miss a pen, a paperclip, or a sheet of paper." What we are conceding is that "God didn't really mean what He said when He told Moses to write, thou shalt not steal in Exo 20.15 and Jesus did not mean it when He told the rich young ruler the same thing in Mat 19.18. When one recalls this the very first untruth, yes, an outright lie, spoken by the devil himself in the Garden of Eden in Gen 3.1.  He saw the woman looking and lusting after the forbidden thing and said, yea hath God said...?  In other words, "God did not really mean it when He instructed not to eat of this tree."

All sin and misbehavior begins when the truth of the Holy Word of God is questioned.  It's been said to this blogger that "you're just a little soldier when doing as the preacher preached, aren't you."  The  reply was, "we are soldiers in the Lord's army."  It is never wrong to do right.  It is always wrong to disobey.

You know better, don't you?  So, when presented with a "no-no," will you respond with righteousness or foolishness?

God bless and keep you is my prayer.  Ps 57.7