A Word for the Church: Between the Lions

If you follow the news at all, you'll have seen that in the narrow Suez Canal that runs between Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula, a massive shipping vessel has gotten wedged sideways, blocking the flow of both northbound and southbound boat traffic.

If a rowboat had gotten wedged in our little cattle creek down the road from my house, it might be kind of amusing, maybe slightly frustrating for its owner, but you get over it and pitch in and help get the vessel unstuck. 

Unfortunately, the stuck vessel is a much bigger deal in the Suez Canal. The Canal is a majorly important channel for international trade as it is used to ship products between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea without taking the much longer and more hazardous trip around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. 

Now, I'm no expert, but seeing the blockage in the canal and the difficulties of removing the blockage makes me wonder exactly how this will affect the rest of the world. Many have already aired their concerns: another toilet paper shortage, coffee shortage (no!), gas and oil shortages, etc.

In other words, because this vessel has not managed to successfully sail straight through the canal, there are heavy implications for international trade.

This situation reminds me of five days ago, where -- as I was spending some time with the Lord -- I saw a vision of a straight path, fairly narrow, but extending to the horizon, where light dawned in the east. It was still dark on the road, and I understood that the road was the place to be; wandering off of it was not recommended. 

Many were walking the path: followers of The Way, Christians, people dedicated to staying on that path until they reached their destination. 

Similar to a scene in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, as we neared the beautiful light in the east, two pillars on either side of the road become visible as we drew closer. On each pillar was a massive lion and both of them roared and swiped at the path. They were terrifying. I could see that unless travelers stayed in the exact center of the path, the lions could reach them.

Both pillars had a word engraved into them. On the left, the pillar said: Self-righteousness. On the right, the pillar said: Fear.

Here was what jolted me. Instead of walking carefully down the middle of the path as I expected, many of my fellow travelers chose sides. Some veered to the right, some of the left. 

Included in these crowds were some who gave warnings, shouting to be heard, postulating about rights, freedoms, etc. Others who crowded to the other side of the path held out their hands: "No offense, sorry, sorry!" they called. The odd thing was, both the ones who walked to the right and the ones who walked to the left had valid points. They were well-meaning people who truly saw good about their championed causes.

But, as the crowd split in two directions, I saw chains on the ground -- the same chains that held the lions, but as the travelers began walking among the chains, they got tangled up, tripped, fell, and couldn't get loose.

A pile-up began. Those who were already caught tripped up those who were coming upon the scene, and the scene became more and more congested. Only a few travelers continued onward, squeezing between the lions in the center of the path. 

John 8 talks about entrapment and freedom. "Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'"

And further on in John 14:4-7, Jesus says: "'You know the way to the place where I am going.' Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we don't know where You are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus answered, 'I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him." 

As I watched the scene unfold in my vision, I couldn't help think: We should know better. We do know better! If we know Jesus, we know the Way, because He is the Way. He is our map, and He's given us clear instructions and a straight line.

So when we've lost our way, it's because we've lost sight of the Way, can't see the map, can't walk between the lions, because we've tripped over the chains. We've turned to the right or to the left, and we can't see the straight-through option. We've taken our eyes off the Way, off of Jesus, and we've veered.

Have you ever closed your eyes and tried to walk in a straight line for any length of distance? You can try your absolute best to stay straight, but without your vision focused on the path, the veer is inevitable, the stumble happens. And we don't trip and fall in a vacuum; as we travel with others, our fall affects others, and we end up taking a whole lot of our fellow travelers down with us -- blockages for days or years.

We do know the Way if we really know Him. Sadly, those lions are highly distracting. Sadly, they're not lions at all, but snares set up the by the enemy of our souls. It's way easier to avoid them rather than walk between them, and the devil preys on our weaknesses, both our fear... and our pride. 

Here's my thought: when neither the right nor the left seems to hold the answer, look for the straight-through option. It truly is an option. The Lord is not going to force anyone to walk the path; that's not His purpose. But He says: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well." He tells His disciples: "Come, follow Me." 

Don't bother about the people watching. Don't bother about the details; I will work it all out. Peter, let go of the railing and step out on the water. Live by faith, not by sight. When the lions are overwhelming your vision, close out the distractions, and focus on Me. I'll lead you through it all.