Beyond The Line

What is courage? Courage is when you step forward when others step back.
“But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved,” (Heb 10:39, NIV.Faith requires courage. Courage to act. To move forward, you need to know where you are going and then take a deep breath and step forward…but not alone. God steps forward with you, but you must choose to move out in faith.

In “Beyond the Line” we will take a journey of discovery. You will learn and be inspired by the wonderful examples in the Bible of people who weren’t satisfied to take the easy path—when opportunity to follow God in faith knocked on their door, they answered and followed. They stepped Beyond The Line! And their example challenges us to do the same today. But before we begin our journey together, let’s spend some time examining your personal line.

Whether you recognize it yet or not, you have a line. You may not see it, but it is there. As a child, other people draw the line for you. As a teenager, you try to ignore the line. And as an adult, you fear the line. The line is real and God expects you to step over it if you are going to grow. Not every line, but the one that leads to you using the talents he has given you. God has mapped out a path for you. Each line is a step on the ladder to God. Each step is made especially for you and is always difficult to step over. But we must step over it, for it is only Beyond The Line (BTL) that we grow, learn and get closer to our God. Be forewarned: you will feel uncomfortable when you move BTL! Maybe we need to feel uncomfortable, as this is when we are most aware of how much we NEED our God. This is when our faith is revealed. In the times when you feel out of control and lost, that is when faith becomes your GPS (God Positioning System).

Faith Is
The Bible is such a wonderfully crafted and inspired book. Hebrews 10:39 reads, “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” This is the last verse before the “Hall of Faith” chapter, Hebrews 11. This verse is there to remind you of the courage we have through Christ to boldly cross over the invisible lines that threaten to hold us back. This verse is the BTL person’s motto.

Many have gone before you who have set the example. These people in different ways have shown you how hard it is to step BTL, but also what triumph exists for those who do. They also show us that faithful men and women have chosen to step over the line over and over again. Still others have been pushed over the line. God loves you and wants you to grow closer to Him. And yes, the line moves. Just as you begin to “master” the current step, another line will appear. You see them, but sometimes you will choose to ignore them and chart your own course. When you find yourself adrift in a sea of doubt and fear, then you will be tempted to blame God for not being there. Every day, Jesus watches the route we are taking as He wants us to follow in His steps and walk with Him BTL. However, knowing what step to take and which lines to cross requires that you understand where you are ultimately headed.

Faith is nothing without vision. Your vision should be so clear. You need to see Jesus and truly want to be with him. He needs to be the one that keeps you centered and focused. He needs to be your plumb-line. The plumb-line was an instrument used in Biblical times to measure verticals such as walls and fences. It was a string with a weight on one end, hung next to a wall to see if it was truly vertical. So who is keeping you centered? Is it Jesus? Or have you lost the one thing that keeps you focused? If the weight is cut from the string, we will be blown from side to side without any direction. Keep your life attached to Jesus and you will be able to clearly see the lines that He wants you to cross. It is a simple measure. Hold the line up against your plumb-line centered life and, if they match, then you are heading in the right direction; but if they do not, then question if this is the line you are meant to cross.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will,” (Rom 12:1-2.) This passage is instructing you to transform your mind. In other words, to make Jesus your center and guide. Be careful not to rush in a particular direction without considering whether the path is laid out for you by God’s will. Solomon gave us a warning with reading and re-reading…DAILY. “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps,” (Prov 14:15).

What Line?
You may not see the line but the truth is that most people are ruled by these invisible lines. Here is a practical example that I have used in many seminars and sermons. First you need to get some props—a bucket, three tennis balls and some tape. Call three friends together and ask them to each have a go at getting the ball into the bucket. Then in front of them pace out two or three large steps from the bucket a place a strip of tape on the floor. What do you think happens? They will all have a throw from BEHIND the line. We are so conditioned to act like this! The lesson is simple. You set out up-front that success was getting the ball into the bucket. They could have walked up and dropped it in but they limited their opportunity for success by not going BTL.
It is true that some lines are wider than others but every line needs to be crossed in order to step up to the next level.