Hard lines are our belief systems, those things we hold to be true and which subsequently shape our decisions and actions - our lives. Those beliefs are partly based on our experiences, thoughts and emotions. They are the conclusions we’ve drawn based on how we feel about something at a given time. Only beliefs based on experiences, thoughts and emotions alone are subject to change. Therefore, they are unstable and unreliable. Yet, they often become the foundation upon which many stand or fall.
Those who solely rely on themselves fail to acknowledge the reality of a truth apart from themselves - an absolute truth, right and wrong defined. They do so knowing it is humanly impossible to always be right. Still, they continue to take strong stands, drawing hard lines based on their thoughts or those of others, inevitably separating themselves from God and what He has declared to be true.
Hard lines drawn to God give believers access to God’s wisdom, the right answers to life’s questions. Hard lines drawn that divide man from His Creator, in the end, break the man who drew them. God gives all people the choice to draw lines to Him or draw lines that separate them from Him. Which lines will you draw?
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. - Romans 12:2
Additional Scripture References: Philippians 4:8, Proverbs 3:5, Jeremiah 33:3, Proverbs 28:26, 2 Corinthians 10:5
“I can see it,” Morris said, tossing a handful of pistachio shells into the brown paper bag at the bottom of the steps.
Wide eyed, Ethan shook his head. “I honestly can’t.” He leaned forward and breathed out heavily.
A strange silence fell marking the abrupt mood shift which now matched the day, overcast and humid. Morris hadn’t taken notice of the heat or the heavy air until that moment. Nor had he heard the clanging of the porch ceiling fans, which suddenly sounded like feral cats brawling in a back alley. Morris sensed Ethan’s disappointment. He thought of changing the subject, coming up with something to soothe his friend’s offense, but then decided against it. Ethan’s questioning felt condescending, even accusatory. There was no avoiding this conversation.
The childhood friends had been out on Morris’s front stoop all morning shelling pistachios, catching up and reminiscing. Their laughter travelled all the way down the block and drew more than a few glances. But silence blew in without a breeze when Morris mentioned in passing that he and his wife, Jillian, had decided to pull Moshe, their seven-year-old son, out of public school to home school him.
Ethan broke the stillness. “I don’t get it. Why do you have to be so extreme?”
“I’m not nearly extreme enough,” Morris countered.
“You’re not extreme enough?” Ethan nearly laughed. “Man, you’re the only one I know who brings God into everything.”
“I don’t remember saying anything about God.”
“I know you, man. You didn’t say God, but He’s the reason you’re pulling Moshe out of school.”
Morris shrugged his shoulders. “What if He is? Why would that be extreme?”
”Every conversation, every decision, every thought? Come on, man.”
”So what do you suggest? Never mention Him? Exclude the Creator of life from my life?”
Ethan exhaled heavily as he weighed the question. “That’s not what I’m saying. It’s just … it’s just … too much.”
“Too much? How can God ever be too much?”
Ethan turned and stared down the empty street. “That’s not what I meant.”
“But it’s what you said.”
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10
So the question is, are God’s people everyday, normal people who don’t feel the need to talk about Him all of the time? Is that an accurate picture of born again believers? Let’s see how the Scriptures describes believers:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. - 2 Cor 5:17
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. - 1 Peter 2:9-10
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: - Ephesians 2:5-6
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. - Galations 3:26
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; - Colossians 2:13
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. -Romans 8:9
When a person comes to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, a spiritual surgery has taken place in his or her heart, that changes them forever. The old person has died and the new person in Christ has come to life. They now know that Jesus is God, their Savior, that they have been forgiven, that His Word is true and their hope is not in this world, but in eternity with God. To become a believer is a supernatural event that cannot be compared to anything else on earth. It is life shattering! Paul describes it this way, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. God’s power has come to rest on the individual and has opened their eyes to see Him.
Now, after something like that happens, do you think it is possible to remain an everyday normal person? I will say this - salvation comes to all, to everyday, normal people. But once it comes, they are not the same. They are brand new in Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells them. They have been brought out of darkness and into God’s light. They are forgiven. They have hope. They have been brought into God’s family! They are no longer everyday, normal people because they have encountered and been forever changed by God!
Questions: Do you think that once a person has encountered the Creator of the world they will be the same as they were before? Do you think people will notice that they are different? Are they every day, normal people, still?
