Articles
Moving The Line
In 1909, a number of Turkish villages were destroyed by a massive earthquake. Sadly,
this could have been avoided. Thirty years prior, the villages had been warned by scientists that
certain towns were situated on top of a major fault line. They were instructed to relocate as soon
as possible. An earthquake could occur at any time.
The leaders convened to discuss the situation. Their decision was shocking. They did not
demand (or even encourage) the townspeople to move. Instead, they redrew the geological map
and moved the fault line so that their villages would no longer be in danger. Nobody needed to
be bothered with the inconveniences and hassles associated with moving.
For 30 years the people had peace of mind. But then the powerful earthquake hit and
villages were destroyed. They were told the day was coming but they did not want to believe
it—they did not want to be inconvenienced. They paid a heavy price.
May we never be like this! If we get news we do not like, we must change! We must
move! We cannot just “move the line.” If we compare our lives to the Gospel and discover that
we are not living in harmony with the will of God, we must change.
“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish
man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew
and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:26-27).
~Bart Warren
Bulletin Digest.com
Glasgow, KY
The illustration was made several weeks ago about drawing a line in the sand. When
facing a bully we may have drawn a line “daring” the individual to cross and then be ready to
suffer the consequences. Sometimes, the line would be re-drawn several times in the hopes of
avoiding any real physical harm.
I wonder if we have done the same thing in drawing lines according to God’s Word, but
then “re-drawing” those same lines to justify the choices we have made, even to avoid having to
sacrifice something we really want to do, which we know is contrary to God’s plan. Lord, help
us to be about living our lives in accordance with Your Word, no matter the number of sacrifices
we may need to make. ~P. Mowrer
