In my last post, I addressed the “separation boundary” that tends to strike fear into Marketplace Leaders when they are challenged to express their faith in the workplace. There is a similar boundary for all that call themselves children of the Most High God. So, let’s repeat the exercise with a different perspective.
Imagine or draw a line on a piece of paper. That line represents the “separation boundary” that all Christians want to avoid crossing. It is the separation of faith and presumption. No one would argue that presumption is a bad thing. No one wants to be found expecting things of God that are out of His will, foolish and/or heretical. But how many of us have allowed ourselves to fear the line?
Most conservative Christians have been careful to avoid the “name-it-and-claim-it”, “plant a seed” and “prosperity” movements. Many have witnessed claims of healing when there was no healing. Rightly so, we do not want to be wrong when it come to our faith. Part of “working out our own salvation with fear and trembling” means staying clear of presuming on our God. Do what it takes to stay on the right side of the line. Right? Amen!
So, draw a stick figure that represents how close you are willing to get to the “separation boundary”. How “careful” are you in your walk of faith? Consider where you stand relative to some of those “other” Christians. Not those in obvious presumption, but those that walk dangerously close to the edge.
BTW: What is that edge? I mean positively speaking, what would you call it. I suggest to you that the “separation boundary” is also the edge of your faith. It is the edge of the envelope. The place where few dare to tread – a dangerous place.
The truth is it is the place where we meet God. It is the center of God’s will for our lives. And it is the measure of our obedience. Don’t miss this!! It does not take faith to get to the line. The line is the measure of the faith we have been given. In fact, every time we get to the line, God will move it. How? By giving us more faith.
No, the distance from your stick man to the line is a measure of your (dis)obedience.
One more thought (and a bunch of questions): Those that cross the line do so out of pride, selfishness and/or ignorance. If you are pursuing God and His will for your life, will He not protect you? Does He not care enough about those that humbly seek Him? If He calls you across the line, is it possible that He’s moved the line? And what if you, in your passion, over-shoot the line? Does not a loving Father correct His children? Would you not rather err in obedience to His call, than disobey His call out of fear? Is it not time for us to run to and along the edge of all the faith we have been given?
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 1Corinthians 9:24 (NKJV)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)