This is a Line You Will Want to Cross

Barriers are a part of life.  Some are formidable and man-made, like the 5,500-mile-long Great Wall of China that took 2,000 years to complete.  The wall was constructed to keep out invading hordes from the north, and for the most part, it worked.  Other barriers are a product of nature, like the swollen rivers many of our ancestors had to cross as they pushed west to settle this country.  While still other barriers are cultural constructs, like being from “the wrong side of the tracks”.  I always wondered who decided which side of the tracks was the “right side”?  But we all understand where the term comes from and that the barrier it creates is just as challenging as any of the others mentioned. 

Humans are amazing in their quest to overcome whatever barrier stands in their way.  The Great Wall didn’t keep out ALL the invaders, our families forded rivers and built bridges, and those of us from the “wrong side of the tracks” found a way to cross over and find success.  Yet one barrier couldn’t be overcome without divine help.  Each of us is born into this life already in bondage to sin, the natural result of which is death.  (See Romans 6)

The soul and body we possess at birth is tainted by the sin nature that fills each of us – most religious groups call that “original sin”.  The idea of being born into the kingdom of sin is on David’s mind as he penned this Psalm:

For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  ⁴ Against You (God), You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight…⁵ Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.   Psalm 51:3-5

Yet Paul reminds us that: 

…Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death…   Romans 8:2

Being born into and living in the kingdom of sin and death is an inescapable truth of the human experience.  Staying there forever, though, is a personal choice, akin to sitting on the river bank and wishing to be on the other side, but doing nothing to build the bridge to get there.  And if crossing the line from death to life depended only on you, you would be forever condemned to remain where you are.  But Jesus came to make a way for us.  HE is the bridge-builder who makes the crossing from death to life possible.

Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.   John 5:24

All of us begin life below the line.  Jesus invites us to live life ABOVE the line.  That’s what the Good News is all about.  When we accept the invitation that Jesus extends, we step from life that is the “best we can do” into an existence that will last for eternity.  Kingdom life is what Jesus offers all of us.  Life above the line – life lived to the fullest extent (John 10:10) – life that doesn’t have to wait for “someday” to experience the joys of the Kingdom of God. 

Who gets to pass from death to life across the bridge that Jesus built?  Anyone may.  Only those with a heart to know God can.  And while there are no magic words that allow you to pass from death to life, the following will get you there if you mean them with all your heart:

“Lord Jesus, I understand that sin has control of me, and I have been OK with that up to now.  But I want more.  I want to know You and know more about Your love for me.  I know Jesus died because of MY sin and I’m sorry.  But I know He died so I could be forgiven, so I ask you now for that forgiveness.  I want to live life as you intended. I want Jesus to be the Lord of my life, now and forever.  I believe your promises and ask you to allow me to pass from death to life at this very moment.  I pray this now in the powerful name of Jesus.  Amen”

If you prayed those words for the first time and meant them in your heart, I can assure you that you’ve crossed the line.  Welcome to the Kingdom of Life!  We’ll have lots of time to get to know one another.  Bless you!

Jacob