This narrow way

Every red-blooded, self-respecting Texan, or anyone who has seen the John Wayne movie adaptation, knows the story of the Alamo. One of the most memorable parts of the account is Colonel Travis drawing a line in the sand. At that point in the battle all hope was lost. All those inside the walls of the old mission knew that no help was coming. They were standing alone against Santa Anna’s army–some 2,000 strong. Everyone who remained inside those walls was going to die. Travis took his sword and drew a line, all who were willing to stay and fight the enemy on one side, and those who wished to leave on the other. But God had line drawers long before 1836.

In the third chapter of the book of Daniel, the King of Babylon built a golden image of himself and ordered that everyone must bow down and worship the statue. Those who didn’t bow would be thrown into a blazing furnace. Daniel’s three friends—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego– refused to worship the idol. The King called for them and asked them if this was true.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

Line drawn.

 Two Kings later (Daniel Chapter 6) a decree was issued stating that anyone praying to any other god or man besides the King for the next 30 days would be thrown into a den of lions. Daniel heard about the decree, went home, got down on his knees and prayed to his God, the true God, 3 times a day, with the windows open to be sure the King’s men saw him.

Line drawn.

Joshua was a line drawer. He assembled all the tribes of Israel and said;

“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14,15.

God wants his people to be line drawers today as well. We need some Joshuas and Daniels. America needs some Shadrachs, Meshachs, and Abednegos. Standing up to tyrannical governments and ungodly, rebellious countrymen wasn’t reserved just for Old Testament times.

Parents, draw a line. Let it be known that you will not tolerate transgender nonsense and critical race theory garbage being taught to your children in public schools. No more drag queen story time and pornographic literature in the classroom either. It stops now. Also that your child and your money won’t be going to any university bent on indoctrination rather than education. No more.

Christians, the next time the government, under the ruse of something like a public health emergency, decrees that riots in the streets are acceptable, but churches must be shut down, draw a line. Or that same government decrees that you must accept the injection of experimental drugs as a condition of your full rights and freedoms as a citizen, draw a line.

Reject tolerance. This may sound harsh but, in our society today, tolerance is a slippery slope. Tolerance is only the first step. The chain goes like this, tolerance>acceptance>celebration>participation. The first demand is we must tolerate a behavior or lifestyle. Remember it just a short time ago when we were sold the idea of so-called gay marriage? Just let people love who they love. Then it was just accept it as normal. Then came, oh isn’t the Pride parade a wonderful thing, people being proud of who they are. Now, it’s wear the rainbow jersey or else in professional hockey.  

Stop apologizing, and for Pete’s sake stop beginning every defense of Biblical Christian beliefs with a disclaimer. For instance, ‘First I just want to say that I love all people and certainly don’t mean to be judgmental, but…..’ Makes me sick every time I hear it. Grow a spine, draw a line. Homosexuality is a sin, not an alternative lifestyle. Abortion is murder, not reproductive health care or choice. Transgender is a mental illness, God didn’t make a mistake and put you in the wrong body. There are 2 genders, male and female, that’s it.

Will there be some consequences to drawing lines? You can count on it. Daniel was still thrown in the lion’s den. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were still thrown into the fiery furnace. But God rewarded their faithfulness to Him by delivering them in both cases.

“Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 97:10.