"Within the Lines"
Introduction. As young children long ago, we learned a fundamental truth about a job well done - always stay “within the lines!” It began with crayons and a coloring book. After laboring to make a picture pretty enough to be praised, we found a very simple rule: keep each color “within the lines.” If we did, we would always be praised regardless of the color scheme we chose. Even to this day, if Mom showed us a picture we drew as a child we feel pride if all the colors stop “within the lines.” Our printing and cursive writing is considered sloppy or beautiful depending on if we stay “within the lines” of the templates we were given.
This simple discovery created success or failure in every other realm of our life. The lines on the football, baseball or basketball field created the boundaries of winning and losing. The lines on the road created the boundaries of life or death. The lines created by civil law created the boundary of the lawful and unlawful. Every realm, every discipline, every hobby, and every relationship has these lines. Along with winning/losing, life/death, lawful/unlawful and success/failure, staying “within the lines” creates honesty, integrity, excellence and success. Failure was always the next step whenever we crossed these lines or violated these boundaries.
Every interaction man has with God is bound by this same basic rule. Only “within the lines” can we find a close relationship with God! From the very beginning (Adam & Eve; Cain & Abel; Noah), God was always clear: stay “within the lines” of law and instruction. God drew a line around the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for Adam and Eve and a line around worship for Cain and Abel. He drew a line around the materials and dimensions of the ark for Noah. Those who stayed “within the lines” succeeded and were praised. Those who went outside the lines failed and were condemned.
This has never changed. We see this from Moses (build all according to the pattern - Ex. 25:9,20) to all the prophets and kings who followed him (seek the old paths & the good way; don’t leave the ancient paths (Jer 6:16; 18:15) or move the ancient landmarks, (Pr 22:28)). Over and over again, an approved relationship with God was only found “within the lines.”
One of the most often preached themes in Jesus’ ministry and certainly the greatest reason behind his heated controversies with the Jewish leaders centered on staying “within the lines” of authority and Scripture (Mt. 7:21-24; Mt. 15:1-9). After Jesus’ death the apostles went everywhere preaching the word and teaching disciples to submit to his authority as Lord and Christ. Not one time did they veer from this principle of staying “within the lines.” They warned again and again that those who did not stay “within the lines” were “severed from Christ,” “fallen from grace,” and “have not God” (Gal. 1:6-9; 5:3-4; 2Jn. 9-11)
Even though we all agree and say "amen" to this truth, none of us are above the temptation to “go onward and abide not within.” It may be a lust of flesh or eye that tempts us to cross the line. David’s glance at Bathsheba led him across God’s clear lines of “Don’t covet your neighbor’s wife,” “Don’t commit adultery,” and “Don’t murder.”
The very essence of a line is to reveal whether we are in or outside and thus whether we will have life or death, success or failure, wisdom or folly. Every doctrine in the Scripture, every lust of the flesh, every aspect of our relationship with God and man has a line. When we see that line, our first question must center on whether we are inside it and safe or outside of it and in peril.
We are foolish indeed if we have not yet identified and built our defenses against such lusts that “war against the soul” (1Pet. 2:11) and keep us from staying “within the lines.” When we learn to “trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding”, we will stay “within the lines.” When we allow God to “direct our paths” we will always be “within the lines” (Pr. 3:5-7).
Brethren, each day of our life is like the coloring book we were given as children. The Scriptures give the lines and our decisions are the colors. We are to look carefully to see if our conduct fits “within the lines.” God has promised to erase and remove everything that is not “within the lines” if we repent and confess them. So each of us must be as cautious with our lives as we were with the crayons.
This simple discovery created success or failure in every other realm of our life. The lines on the football, baseball or basketball field created the boundaries of winning and losing. The lines on the road created the boundaries of life or death. The lines created by civil law created the boundary of the lawful and unlawful. Every realm, every discipline, every hobby, and every relationship has these lines. Along with winning/losing, life/death, lawful/unlawful and success/failure, staying “within the lines” creates honesty, integrity, excellence and success. Failure was always the next step whenever we crossed these lines or violated these boundaries.
Every interaction man has with God is bound by this same basic rule. Only “within the lines” can we find a close relationship with God! From the very beginning (Adam & Eve; Cain & Abel; Noah), God was always clear: stay “within the lines” of law and instruction. God drew a line around the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for Adam and Eve and a line around worship for Cain and Abel. He drew a line around the materials and dimensions of the ark for Noah. Those who stayed “within the lines” succeeded and were praised. Those who went outside the lines failed and were condemned.
This has never changed. We see this from Moses (build all according to the pattern - Ex. 25:9,20) to all the prophets and kings who followed him (seek the old paths & the good way; don’t leave the ancient paths (Jer 6:16; 18:15) or move the ancient landmarks, (Pr 22:28)). Over and over again, an approved relationship with God was only found “within the lines.”
One of the most often preached themes in Jesus’ ministry and certainly the greatest reason behind his heated controversies with the Jewish leaders centered on staying “within the lines” of authority and Scripture (Mt. 7:21-24; Mt. 15:1-9). After Jesus’ death the apostles went everywhere preaching the word and teaching disciples to submit to his authority as Lord and Christ. Not one time did they veer from this principle of staying “within the lines.” They warned again and again that those who did not stay “within the lines” were “severed from Christ,” “fallen from grace,” and “have not God” (Gal. 1:6-9; 5:3-4; 2Jn. 9-11)
Even though we all agree and say "amen" to this truth, none of us are above the temptation to “go onward and abide not within.” It may be a lust of flesh or eye that tempts us to cross the line. David’s glance at Bathsheba led him across God’s clear lines of “Don’t covet your neighbor’s wife,” “Don’t commit adultery,” and “Don’t murder.”
The very essence of a line is to reveal whether we are in or outside and thus whether we will have life or death, success or failure, wisdom or folly. Every doctrine in the Scripture, every lust of the flesh, every aspect of our relationship with God and man has a line. When we see that line, our first question must center on whether we are inside it and safe or outside of it and in peril.
We are foolish indeed if we have not yet identified and built our defenses against such lusts that “war against the soul” (1Pet. 2:11) and keep us from staying “within the lines.” When we learn to “trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding”, we will stay “within the lines.” When we allow God to “direct our paths” we will always be “within the lines” (Pr. 3:5-7).
Brethren, each day of our life is like the coloring book we were given as children. The Scriptures give the lines and our decisions are the colors. We are to look carefully to see if our conduct fits “within the lines.” God has promised to erase and remove everything that is not “within the lines” if we repent and confess them. So each of us must be as cautious with our lives as we were with the crayons.