Stepping Forward in a World That Pushes Back

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

Sometimes you have to draw a line in the sand. Even when you’re the one who needs to step over it.

The idea of drawing a line is often credited to Colonel William B. Travis at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. Being a life-long Texan, I’d like to go with the Col. Travis at the Alamo. But I find too many instances of this challenge being used in Scripture to think this concept isn’t as old as mankind.

At the time of Col. Travis’ challenge, approximately two hundred men were gathered inside the tiny mission-turned-fort when Travis etched his famous line in the sand. The choice was clear. Step forward over the line and declare yourself willing to fight to what would almost certainly be death or stay on the other side in the hope you might escape. 

The Mexican army under Colonel Santa Anna arrived at the battle carrying a black flag. Every man inside the Alamo knew that meant there would be no quarter. In other words, Santa Anna’s army wouldn’t be taking captives. This would be a fight to the death.

Does this sound like our world today? 

The Christian fight is a fight against an enemy who loves to see the death of God’s children.

This death isn’t limited to physical death. Our spiritual death is much worse. 

We have a very real enemy, and he most certainly waves the black flag of no quarter over our churches and families, our governments and schools. His is a banner of death. He’s not interested in hostages though he’s keen to enslave us to a life that leads to eternal damnation. He wants the end of everything God has created. And that means all of mankind. 

But Jesus has promised us eternal life when we accept His free gift of salvation (see Ephesians 2:8-9).

We can’t lose our salvation. If we’ve believed in Christ and received Him as our Lord and Savior, we are headed to an eternity with Him. Period.

But many Christians, operating under their own flags of fear or complacency, either seek to ignore and deny the danger, or they seek to find a compromise that allows them to bend enough to fit in with the world.

In Joshua 24:15, Joshua challenges the Israelites to take a side. They could either serve the pagan gods of their fathers or God. 

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

He drew a line in the sand. 

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah draws a line in the sand with the words, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”

I love that he uses the word “limping,” as though we’re not fully functional until we’ve stepped firmly over the line—one way or the other.

Jesus draws a lie in the sand in Matthew 7:13-14 when He declares there are only two gates: the narrow gate that leads to life or the wide gate that leads to destruction.

One of the most powerful “line in the sand” moments is found in Judges 7:3 in the story of Gideon (see Judges 6-7).

Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. Judges 7:3

Over two thirds of the men turned back from war because they were afraid. When we look back to Judges 6:7, we find that the children of Israel had cried out to God for deliverance from the very people they were now too afraid to fight. They wanted an end to the oppression and a chance for a better life, but they didn’t have the courage to fight for it.

Is it any different for us now?

We want an end to abortion, broken families, child abuse, addictions, racism, hatred, and oppression. 

We want to see biblical marriage restored and honored, God in our schools, and an end of human trafficking.

But when it comes to crossing the line to fight in that battle, we won’t take that step. Too often we fall back in fear choosing instead what seems safe. 

The truth is that we are in a great battle whether we wish to acknowledge it or not. And there is no neutral side. We can’t escape destruction by refusing to take a side.

Sure, the enemy may leave us alone if we stay quiet and mind our own business. But by refusing to take up the battle in our homes, churches, communities, and governments, we are, in fact, choosing a side.

Every time we don’t stand up, speak up, or point up, we are giving ground to the enemy.

There comes a time when we must ask ourselves what it is that we will stand for. How far will we go in compromising with the world to avoid conflict or persecution? How long will the Lord allow us to look the other way?

If we won’t cross that line now when it may cost us much less, will we cross the line when it could cost us our jobs, our homes, or even our lives?

This is my line in the sand--Stepping Forward in a World that Pushes Back. I’m crossing over to leave behind compromise with the world, the fear of offense, and the safety of not “rocking the boat.” Let's be honest, the seas are already so turbulent it seems the boat is already about to capsize.

Like Gideon, I have wrestled with my insecurities and all the reasons why I wasn’t the right one for this job. The list was many.

Well, in the words of Isaiah, Here I am. Send me (Isaiah 6:8).

My love for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—and for those He loves—won’t allow me to stay neutral. My surrender to Him compels me to step forward in faith that He is able when I am not.

For me, crossing the line means seizing these opportunities to pen and share words of truth. Words that challenge our complacency and offer encouragement in standing against a culture that comes against us under the flag of No Quarter.

Where is your line in the sand? 

Jesus said that if we want to do His work here on earth, we can’t look back to the world we came from. “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

Stepping forward in a world that pushes back takes commitment, determination, and grit.

Will you take some time to pray and meditate about where God might be asking you to step forward.?

And may the words in Judges 5:21 be your prayer as it is mine.

Oh my soul, march on in strength.