If we are honest, we all have areas where we sit on a fence. We
regard it as a place of safety, but it is not. We yearn for it to keep fear at
arm's length, but all it does is keep away any hope. We sit on the fence because
not sitting on the fence means that we must make a decision one way or the
other. If we get off the fence, we will be forced to commit to something. We
will either believe or not believe. We will either have faith or not have faith.
We will either accept or reject. We are afraid to commit because we might be
wrong. On the other hand we are afraid to not commit, because we might be wrong.
So we are imprisoned on our fence. The fence has not become a place of safe
retreat, but it has become a prison. What we might not realize is that staying
on the fence is really a choice. It is a choice to remain in bondage instead of
discovering freedom.
"Now the Lord is the
Spirit,” Paul imparts, “and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”
(2 Corinthians 3:17). The Holy Spirit will liberate me from my fence, but I must
be willing. I must choose to let go of its false protection, and make a
commitment to believe in His faithfulness. The fence does not protect me. It is
a place where non-commitment will destroy what little faith I have.
Before his death Moses spoke to the Israelites and instructed them to choose prosperity and life instead of destruction and death (Deuteronomy 30:11-15). They had remained on their fence afraid to go into their promised land, but now was the time for them to choose. Not stepping out on faith to claim their promise was choosing death over life. Choosing to get off their fence and move into their promise was going to cost them something. They would have to overcome the barriers to their promise. Letting go of the fence means that we must face our own giants. But we do not face them alone. Just as the Israelites moved forward in faith with God's protection, so will you, and so will I. Getting off the fence does not mean that I will fail. It means that I have chosen to trust Him and His promises. It means that I have chosen life.
My promised land waits. Yours waits. It is a land where walking
by faith in God's faithfulness is all that we need. It is a land where we face
the unknown with the assurance that all is well in His protection and
providence. “Choose life,” the Lord pleads, “the land is waiting for you to
enter and possess it!” The ability to choose life rests within your heart, but
it is only discovered in making a commitment to believe in God's faithfulness to
you.
Choose to believe in His
faithfulness to you, and let go of your fence. He will not fail you. He will
carry you through pain, fear, and doubt to your own promised land because you
have chosen to believe in Him. Faith comes as a result of great sacrifice.
Sacrifice your fence, and trust in Jesus Christ who sacrificed all for you. “So
do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”
(Isaiah 41:10).
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