One thing I have seen in Africa, that is as justified as it is heartbreaking, is how much the past still affects us. Economically millions are still suffering under the results of colonialism. Civil wars rage on through generations. Apartheid is still rearing its evil head in education, politics, business and even within the church. We have a plethora of cultures and demographics living in circumstances that can be traced back to decisions made by people long dead.
And as much as the problems persist, I believe that there is a very desperate need for the young people of this continent to actively decide how life is going to be in the days to come. Another generation can pass by where people simply exist as an extension of their circumstances, or there can be such a clear shift in attitude, thinking and language that Africa can change. And there are some amazing indicators that we are the generation to do so. Whether it is in the passion of students who have decided that education is not accessible, the many stories of young people who have come from struggle and poverty who are now nation leaders in every sector. We can see it in the way we are able to unite around a cause and our desire to make a difference.
But all of the above is only going to translate into sustainable change if there is a personal decision to ‘draw a line in the sand’. To firmly decide that what has been – the bad and also the good – is not necessarily welcome in each of our own lives. There needs to be a clear distinction between what was and what is. There needs to be a perspective that empowers you to say, “that will not be part of my life”, “that is not how I will think” or “that behavior is a thing of the past as far as I am concerned”.
Jesus drew some lines when he was teaching people. Here are a few lines he drew:
Heaven (God’s Kingdom) and Earth (kingdom of the time)
Jesus said multiple times, “the Kingdom of Heaven is like…”. He was preaching a different perspective. At that time, Israel was under the very aggressive rule of Rome. There were multiple uprisings against the Roman oppression and massacres as a result. Jesus was living in a time when his culture was constantly violated and openly mocked. Many people were hoping that he would overthrow the current unjust system, when Jesus was actually turning the whole situation on its head. He was speaking of the eternal rulership of a God greater than any authority. He was speaking towards a perspective change that belittled the current struggles as temporal. He spoke of God’s Kingdom and how attaching your soul to that eternal authority would make you unshakable no matter what the current circumstance.
Law and grace
The one time Jesus physically wrote on the ground (that we are aware of) is when a gang of religious leaders were trying to stone a woman caught in the act of adultery (the man was nowhere to be seen). The law – which was the cornerstone of Jewish culture – dictated that she be stoned to death. But Jesus stood in between them and drew a line. A line between what is traditionally required and what is right. He said, “you who have no sin throw the first stone”. All of a sudden an age-old line was broken between ‘guilty parties’ and those who were accusing. The true line was then redrawn between those who had sinned and those who had not. Obviously all of them were found on one side. They were united in their guilt and the fact that they all deserved punishment. And then Jesus presented himself as the only true way to escape that guilt to get to the freedom of grace. When we are fighting for a better world, it is important to keep in mind that all of us are on the same side: guilty (regardless of what). Arguing from a place of self-righteousness will never truly solve the problems we face.
Action and intention
When Jesus was in the process of being brutally and publicly murdered, he said these words: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In that moment of excruciating injustice, Jesus drew a line between what people were doing to him and their true intention. Whether those who were torturing him were simply carrying out orders, or were blinded by their anger, or were caught up in the frenzy of the moment – Jesus saw through it. He knew that beyond all the emotion and conflict were souls that desperately wanted God and needed his forgiveness. Would we be able to draw that line in our own interactions? As much as God allowed Jesus to be tortured and beaten, the one thing Jesus never became was a victim. Even at the pinnacle of anguish, Jesus had a bigger perspective. I don’t know about you, but I definitely need that kind of perspective as I engage with this broken world.
These are just three lines Jesus drew. But there are countless more. He drew the line between our sin and death. He drew the line between joy and mourning. He drew the line between hopelessness and hope.
One line that I hope we all draw is one between life without God and life with God. If you find yourself struggling to survive in a tumultuous world that is in the throes of liberation, can I encourage you to invite God into your life? I can tell you now, this invitation has been the answer to my ability to thrive no matter what circumstance I have found myself in: financially desolate, emotionally bankrupt and in complete confusion. Click on the link to find out more.