Walking in a park with a few friends one night, we approached a line scribed out in chalk on the sidewalk with the words " the line " written above it. The first thought that came to me was that someone knew "WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE ". They stated it clearly for everyone to see where it begins and where it ends. They picked that spot possibly because it was a race or just maybe they came to terms with themselves that this is now time to proclaim what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is true.
Within the sports world, all games are defined by lines and if you or the ball crosses the line during play, it is considered a foul and removed from fair play. The play needs to be within the lines and the players need to keep in line. A race is different though as it requires you to cross the line twice during play. When something appears to be good in this world then people will flock to it and form a line to be a part of it hoping to be next in line.
Growing up we had a landline that was a party line that we had to share with the neighbors. What we spoke about was always along the same lines and many times it could be considered a close call!
Today we can have our own line not attached to a line and can jump online, and at the touch of a finger we can drop a line to anyone we choose, to form a party. Lines can be found everywhere in this world to give us power, communicate and guide us to be someone who knows "WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE".
Today in society the line has become faded resulting in a fine line, a thin line that nobody pays attention to on the lines of truthfulness and behavior. Many have crossed the line and become out of line. I have been along similar lines and many times like Johnny Cash, "I Walk the Line ". I think we all have at some point, but when you end up in a line up, it all has gone too far out of line. I often wonder if there is a line at the gates of hell, but pray that there is a long line to heaven because that line is worth waiting in.
The bottom line though is "WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE " when it pertains to your life here on earth. I wasn't too far out of bounds at times and tried to limit my fouls so as not to be thrown out of the game. Thankfully there were guardrails just beyond the line many times. Knowing "WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE" has always been a challenge without a reference point to go by. The line was highly visible all the time, but I chose to ignore it as most society still does. It was bright red, a bloodline, it oozed out forming a stream running down a cross and spewed on the ground. It was all recorded in a book called The New Testament and a man named Jesus knew WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE " as He Laid Himself on the line so that your life could be realigned. Previous to that time He also drew a line in the sand to show society that we must not condemn others of what we do ourselves in which finger pointing instead of confession has become way out of line. My only hope is that line can become visible for all those around me, to know what is good and true and be able to cross that finish line knowing that "it is finished ". So enough of the line dancing, it's now time to cowboy up, to join hands in the square dance forming a circle of unity. A walk on the sidewalk that has enough room for two of you to walk together, and if Jesus is walking besides you, then you will always know "WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE."
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line.
Johnny Cash
Father, I see that you are drawing a line in the sand
And I want to be standing on your side,
holding your hand
Phillips Craig &Dean
JOHN 8:4-10 ESV
4.They said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say? 6. This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." 8. And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10. Jesus stood up and said to her, " Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? " She said "No one Lord ". And Jesus said, " Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."
EPHESIANS 2:10 ESV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good work, which God planned beforehand, that we should walk in them.
1 JOHN 2:6 ESV
Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way he walked.