In Which Line Are We Standing?

In Which Line Are We Standing? by Gene Poore Lines have been humanity’s curse since Adam was second to share fruit and Abel waited behind Cain to make an offering acceptable to God. In the first line-the sin line--the result was the disastrous fall of humankind. In the salvation line, God accepted a substitute sacrifice as atonement for sin. Those same two lines--sin and salvation--twist through society today. The sin line forms on a broad road that leads to destruction and separation from God. The salvation line forms on a narrow, blood-paved path that leads back to God, a path provided by God’s crucified and resurrected Son. Each of us stands in either the sin line or salvation line. Each of us shuffles toward the irreversible conclusion of physical existence and that end-ofline payday of spiritual condemnation or spiritual joy. Which line are we standing in? Do we know? Do we realize whose elbow bumps against ours? Does that elbow belong to the profane or to the vulgar? Neither “Fornicators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners ... inherit the kingdom of God.” (1CO 6:9-10). The list grows in the Book of Revelation; the “Fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars...” (21:8) will miss entry to heaven. The sinful treadmill line on which the profane and vulgar cavort escalates them toward the second death in the lake of “Everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and [the devil’s] angels....” (Mt 25:41). Are we in the devil’s sin Line? Are our arms entwined with the profane and vulgar? Do we want to let go? God Word says, “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” (PRO 4:26). “Call unto me, and I will answer thee....” (JER 33:3). When we call on God in the name of Jesus, God’s Christ, God’s Holy Spirit washes, justifies, sanctifies our soul. The choice remains ours alone: Sin Line or Salvation Line. The end-of-line payment--spiritual death or Christ’s gift of life--lasts forever. At the head of the Salvation line, God’s Son waits. In His hands, Jesus holds the Books. We must ask Jesus to forgive us for standing in the Sin Line. We must ask Jesus to write our name in the Book of Life.