I pulled into the Millington, TN Walmart parking lot and found quickly found a space up front, close to the store. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. It was the space right next to the handicap parking space. I was somewhat disturbed when I returned from doing my shopping, however, to discover that I had a parking ticket on my window. What was my infraction? One of my tires was on the line separating my parking space from the handicap parking space. As a result of not parking straight I had to pay a fine.
There are lines everywhere. There are lines down the middle of the road. Sometimes there are double lines down the middle of the road. There are lines on the football field, on the baseball diamond and on the basketball court. The lines are their for a purpose. They are to show you your limits and to give you direction.
As a youngster I remember getting into an argument with another boy. A line was drawn in the dirt and the dare went out, “You’d better not step over that line if you know what is good for you.â€
Elijah drew a line in the dirt as well. He said, 1 Kings 18:21 . . . How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. KJV
Jesus also drew a line in the dirt. He said, “You have a choice to make. Are you going to serve me or are you going to serve your own desires and worldly ambitions?â€
We today are faced with a choice. Will it be Christ? Or will it be Satan?
By Dr. Gayle Woods
The concept of separation can have either a negative or a positive connotation. If separation is perceived as being deprived of something desirable then it would be considered negative. If it was perceived as isolated so that it caused the individual to be ineffective disallowing a purpose for life then it would be thought as detrimental to the person’s well-being. On the other hand, if separation is perceived as allowing the individual to be a part of an elite group so that their focus is not obscured or their efforts diverted then it would have a positive connotation. When we consider separation coupled with holy living it can take on either a negative or a positive connotation. What is the reason a person is separated in the holy life? Are we to isolate ourselves from the world like a monk in a monastery? Do we separate ourselves so that we can keep aloof from those who do not meet our standard of dress or behavior? Do we separate ourselves because we think that we might be polluted by any association with those who are not holy? Do we separate ourselves because we are secretly afraid that we are inadequate to cope with the questions that the sinner might ask about our beliefs or lifestyle? Do we separate ourselves from the world because we don’t really want to be bothered by people who don’t agree with the life that we live? What is our motive for living the separated life? Is it possible to obey the scriptural directions carefully about the separated life in such a way that we are wrong?
By Dr. Gayle Woods
