Christians, previously I had a funny experience where God used something very simple to show me something very profound. The Church in Indiana we attended, after 3 years, finally repaved their parking lot. It is now level, smooth, without blemish and at that time had yet to have lines painted on it.
One Sunday morning, when we got to Church, I parked as well as I could next to the car beside me and we walked in. I didn’t really think anything of it. After a great time of praise and worship and a great message, we came out and I could see the entire parking lot. WHAT A MESS! It looked like blind-folded people had parked these cars. God gave me the revelation that this is how people with NO guidelines live their lives.
You see the first person parked however they felt was best, then the next person based their parking after the person before them AND what they thought was best. In a regular parking lot with lines, it is easy and clear to see how someone parks and if they are out of the lines, but here, who was right and who was wrong? What was the standard?
Christians, the Word of God is the bright yellow lines in our lives. We know that there is safety and protection, inside those lines. We know how close we are, how much room we have. In the Word of God, He outlines our space and gives us clear boundaries. The misaligned rows of cars could represent the generations of people, lost people, with no guidelines. They just live however they think and base it off of what the previous generations did. A very dangerous and sometimes costly way to live.
As Christians we need to live within the lines and teach the next generation to do so as well. If we ever cross the line, there is hope for them to not make the same errors. If you read in the Old Testament 1st and 2nd Kings and Chronicles, it is pretty much a parking lot and they are telling you who parked in the lines and did a great job and who parked out of the lines and how it didn’t go well. In our current day and age, there are political agendas, social movements, and political correctness that are trying to RE-PAINT the lines in our society. We, who know the Word of God, need to do everything we can, to stand firm on our faith and not start to park in THEIR lines.
You may be called a bigot, you may be told you are intolerant, but you must stand firm. You see, God very clearly says in His word, if you follow my commands you will be BLESSED and if you do not, you will be CURSED. I would rather be called a bigot by the world and be blessed by God, than be a friend of the world and be CURSED by God. We do not need to run around and tell lost people how FAR OUTSIDE THE LINES their lives are, we just need to park in our space, live our life out, and be willing to give parking lessons to anyone who wants to learn.
As we look at those little yellow lines in every parking lot we pull into, let us think of them as the Word of God in our lives. Guiding us and protecting us from this rebellious generation and showing us how to live victorious lives. We will obey and grow in the things of God and leave a legacy that is worthwhile, In Jesus Name, Amen.
Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3:16-17 (AMP)
Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 (NASB)
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Exodus 19:5-6 (NIV)
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:
However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:
Deuteronomy 28: 1-2, 15 (NIV) Please read the verses following the colons to understand the value of staying between the lines and the danger of not having the lines guide your life.
Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17 (NIV)
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2016
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