Lines have more of an impact on our daily lives than we give them credit
for. I have waited my turn to talk on our party line, enjoyed the hemline of
mini-skirts, and grimaced as my waistline expanded. I have been next in line
for promotion, watched Over the Line,and signed on the dotted line to buy a
home. I have watched balls hit the foul pole, a vertical extension of the foul
line, although they are in fair territory, and seen touchdowns denied for not
crossing the goal line. I have seen old people with lines on their faces, and
lines from the tracks of their tears. I have had a great credit line, heard
great opening lines, and been slapped when trying to use both. I have tried
unsuccessfully to stay within the lines, to color inside the lines, and don’t
cross over the double yellow line. I have waited in lines to buy tickets, stood
in line to return items, and never have been in a police line up. I have been
in baseball line ups, lined up for kickball, and lined up by height or in
alphabetical order. I have been in unemployment lines, been asked what line of
work I was in, and admired the lines of a classic Corvette. I have seen battles
over fence lines, been told I was out of line, and looked for imaginary lines.
I have crossed state lines, county lines, and border lines. I have seen the sun
disappear behind the horizon, another line, and come up again, over another
line. I have been put on hold while on line, bought things on line, and heard
the song “Wichita Lineman,” is he still on the line? I have read line after
line of articles, been sold a line of goods, and sold a line of goods. I will
tear along the dotted line, have seen a cartoon with Terralong the dotted lion,
and been in gas lines. I have seen curvy lines, straight lines, and dotted
lines, all different, yet all lines. You may have your own list, but be
assured, lines are a part of our lives we don’t give them enough credit
for.
MY HD TV has more lines than the old black and white sets, been
told to toe the line when it comes to rules, and been out of line when I
didn’t. I have cut in line at high school cafeterias, been thrown out of line
for the same, and gone to the end of the line because of it. I have seen
marriages, relationships, and lives at the end of the line, and been first in
line-if you just reverse the order to back to front. I watch as scanners read
lines to tell me the cost of a product, and stand in return lines when I wish I
hadn’t bought the same thing. I have watched at Costco as people form their own
lines, and then get upset when someone follows the arrows and starts their own
line-per the rules. So it is with lines...
I have crossed over state lines, and been going 75 mph safely, only to see
State Police pulling cars over for the same speed when their state laws are only
65 mph. I have been in different homes, where you don’t wear shoes on their
carpet-keep them on and you have crossed over their line. But it is the
imaginary lines that continue to fascinate me. When you cross from New Mexico
into Colorado, it goes from brown to green, you can see the line. Same with
yards absent of a fence, one neighbor’s yard being separated by a line where
they stop cutting. Or a fence line that separates the two, how can it be on
both sides at once? And as lines form boundaries, when you cross them you are
now under the jurisdiction of the new territory. When visiting prisoners in
jail, you are under the same rules as them, you lose freedom as you enter, they
don’t gain it because you are there. Crossing into another state the police
don’t care about the previous state’s laws, you are under theirs now. Even
baseball has ground rules for each park, still three outs and nine innings, but
they can have an impact on how you get there. How many imaginary backs have
been broken from stepping on the cracks, the lines of a sidewalk? So it seems
although lines may keep some out, while it keeps others in, lines form a
boundary, a way of telling where we are, a line of demarcation that either
denies or expands our freedom.
I have watched as lines of fans wait to get a program or baseball car
signed, sometimes for a fee, and watched as the hungry stand in line for food.
For it is what is at the end of the line, or the head of the line that attracts
us. So it seems I have been on line, inline, out of line, behind the line, over
the line, and been at the head of the line. Both ends. Jesus makes the
difference when He is at the head of the line. He honors the rules of the line,
but expands them, giving a freedom outside of the lines. Rules and regulations
in religion form a line around Christ, a boundary that keeps many from enjoying
the freedom He promises, and delivers. Many wait in line for communion, once a
year, but fail to commune with Him daily via prayer. They fall for a religious
line about God, and sadly follow it, never experiencing true freedom. It is
like learning to ride in a parking lot, just following the lines drawn on the
pavement, and then getting out on the street, with the only lines designed to
keep traffic on their side. Ride too close to the line and it can be
dangerous. A freedom, but being taught religiously to adhere to the lines, many
fail because they have lost direction, the lines are gone. what do they do?
When asked the other day, if I had an answer, I admitted “I don’t have all the
answers, but I have an answer, Jesus.” Who gives us the answers, and gives us
the freedom to live outside of the lines of religion. To obey all laws of
His-love God first, then your neighbor as yourself, and showing you how to stay
on the straight and narrow, and still enjoy life. He operates outside of the
lines of religion, yet in Him you gain respect for others, love of others, and a
desire for God to be in your life. Something no preacher’s line, or religious
line can offer, or deliver. His line may be straight, but it leads directly to
heaven, and even widens to keep you on it when needed. A line that as you go
into the horizon of life doesn’t shrink, but seems to expand. As lines, both
imaginary, and seen, seem to disappear as you get closer to Him. You don’t seem
to need the laws of lines when you walk in the spirit.
But some cross over the line, and are looking for the way back. Again
Jesus is the way, offering us forgiveness, and showing the way. Sometimes a
curvy road, for those of us who ride, but always helping us stay on the straight
and narrow, following His line of love. All roads lead to somewhere, so do all
lines. Only His leads to heaven. Ever wonder how many sides does a circle
have? Two, an inside and an outside. But how many lines? One, that is
continuous, that seems to have no beginning or no end, it goes on forever.
Complete and incomplete at the same time. Where are you in Christ? Inside or
outside the circle of faith? Are you part of the continuous line in Him, or
trying to stay straight and narrow on your own? There may be two lines in
heaven, make sure you are in the righteous one, where you pass into heaven. It
may even be the shorter of the two lines, because you got in line earlier while
here on earth. If not, no cutting in after death. For you it is the end of the
line and hell. Make the choice now, so if asked “what line are you in?” you can
tell the asker “I’m in line for heaven.” A line that goes somewhere without
boundaries. That leads to Christ. Don’t cross over the double yellow and find
out! Although life many times will send you to the end of the line, Jesus sends
you to the front. Straight, dotted, or double-His is the line to follow. A
line of one to follow.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.