ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DAY

THE BORDERLINE

A minister friend of mine, working with youth at our local college, shared an experience recently. He had been working with a young girl for some time, and she was at the verge of accepting Christ into her life. They were sitting in the bleachers at a football game discussing her spiritual feelings. "I would like to give my life to Christ and be baptized," she said.

Just as she spoke the words, there was action on the field. Forgetting the minister and what she had just said, she sprang to her feet, yelling: "Kill him, kill him, knock his head in--bring him down, don't let him score." Here she stood at the borderline of her life. One part of her wanted salvation, new birth, a new way of life; but the other half of her wanted to tackle life full force and overcome the other person.

1 John 4:20-21 reminds us, "If anyone says 'I love God' yet hates his brother, he is a liar, for anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen, and he has given us this command: whoever loves God must also love his brother." (NIV)

This girl will "come through" we hope. She is standing on the borderline where so many of us stand. Her decision will be her beginning, but the road will not be easy. Throughout life she'll be faced with decisions. She'll have to decide whether to give her life to Christ and walk with him or cheer others on in the competitions of life. The actions and beliefs will need to be brought into consistency with the image of Christ. Rather than an enthusiastic cheerleader, her actions will become attuned to her inner beliefs and motivations as she begins her enactment of the Christ within.

A danger for many when standing at the borderline is to accept Christ, begin their Christian Pilgrimage and stop there. They think that by having professed Christ as Savior, and joined the church; that is all that's expected of them. A pilgrimage is a life long journey, not a turnpike to get one quickly from point A to point B. To become like someone, we have to know that person. A thorough knowledge of Christ must be obtained if we are to reach our destination and become like him. To become like Him means unloading lots of burdens along the way, and filling up the vacant spaces with spiritual truths. One needs to remove all parasites like envy, jealousy, and hatred that sap our spiritual energy along the way. These parasites, like vines climbing up a tree trunk, can impede our spiritual growth and if the vine is not dug up by the roots, may eventually kill the tree. Impurities within us may erupt into a cancer that will grow stronger and eventually root out the implanted word of Christ we once had in our lives.

Just as food eaten yesterday does not satisfy the body, today, but must be replenished, spiritual food, the word of Christ, is needed daily, to keep us going on the journey we've undertaken.

James 1:22 cautions: "Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers." (NIV)

Just as the body needs exercise to keep its muscles from atrophying, it needs spiritual exercise, too. This we get by putting the words of truth into action.

…..(c) Ivie Bozeman (ivie@rose.net) by way of “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)