Umbrella Line

It was a line in the sand. An umbrella line, to be exact.

I’ve been to the beach many times yet I’d never heard of the "umbrella line” before. But there it was stretching down the beach. A line of beach umbrellas. Colorful sentinels of the sun marking its daily arc with soothing circles of shifting shade.

Ignoring this line in the sand, we picked a spot closer to the ocean.

No sooner did I have the umbrella and beach chairs set up than over walked a lifeguard. In a friendly Aussie accent he told us we had to move.

It seems this beach town had an ordinance. An umbrella ordinance.

The lifeguard set up the umbrella line in the morning. All other umbrellas had to be in line with those or behind them. Since we were in front of the line, we had to move.

What if I had said, “No way--I’m not moving! No lifeguard is telling me what to do”? I probably would have had a meeting with a police officer, received a ticket and been fined.

Since that’s not how I wanted to start our vacation, we moved behind the line.

God has also put his "line in the sand." Only it's not umbrellas and it carries more weight than a city ordinance.

People often think of the Bible as a list of do's and don'ts. But to me it's more helpful to think of it as an instruction manual on how God designed life to work. As such it's full of helpful illustrations about what works and what doesn't.

God also makes clear the consequences for bad choices. Why? Because God wants us to enjoy life abundantly. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Over and over Jesus spoke of how blessed we are when we seek God, obey him and live according to his plan for our lives. But not everyone follows God’s plan.

The Bible says the reason God recorded the lives of so many people was to serve as examples for us. Some made good choices and some bad. Sadly, many today ignore the good examples, repeat the mistakes and suffer the consequences.

Some people are bothered by restrictions on their behavior. They don’t want anyone telling them what’s right or wrong.

But what if it’s true? True that God made us and he made life work a certain way? True that much of human suffering is due to our own ignorance and avoidance of God’s laws?

Wouldn’t it make sense to seek God and his blessing in our lives?

Try this. Find the godliest Christian you know. Someone you trust completely and whose advice you take seriously. Ask if they regret serving God. Ask about God’s blessings in their life. About answered prayers. About their struggles and God’s provision.

Ask them to be honest and tell you what it cost them to serve Jesus with their life. And then ask them if they recommend it to you. My guess is that they will. I certainly would!

Then spend some time reading a Bible. Look up the lives of Noah, Abraham, Joseph and especially Jesus. Notice how the Bible is honest about its heroes. Consider the outcome of their lives and think about how you want your life to count.

While we were on the beach, we learned to respect the umbrella line in the sand. And in life I’ve learned to respect God’s boundary lines also. The umbrella line helps keep the beach beautiful and God’s lines help keep our lives safe and blessed.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!