1 Peter 2:9 talks about how the Lord calls His people out of darkness and into His marvelous light. But how many Christians today are stuck right there on the threshold? They’re not completely in the dark. They believe that Jesus died for their sins and rose again. But they aren’t completely in the light either. That’s the place of full submission to God where Jesus rules and reigns over every aspect of their lives. It’s like they have put their toes into the water of Jesus but refuse to be fully submerged in Him. My pastor told a story recently that illustrates the necessity of complete surrender. The edge of the light is still darkness.
The Man and the Fence
The story goes that once a man was faced with a great decision. On one side of the fence was God, and on the other side of the fence was Satan.
Satan’s side was darkness. There was evil there, and the inevitable eternity in Hell. The man wrinkled his nose. “Not interested.”
God’s side was light. There was holiness there and a promise of eternity in Heaven. The man liked the idea of it, but the admission price was much too high. He would have to surrender everything to enter in. His will, his way, and his life would all be second to God’s will, God’s way, and the life God wanted him to lead. Again, the man wrinkled his nose. “I don’t think so.”
“I think I will choose the fence,” said the man. So, he climbed up high to the top of the fence and settled comfortably. He would live completely for himself and refuse to look at either side.
Many times, over the next few years, both Satan and God called out to the man. Satan offered riches and power. God just held out His great hand with eyes of compassion, asking the man to please come to His side. But the man never listened to either one. He was happy right where he was on the fence.
Finally, one day, the man’s life was done. He died and opened his eyes in Hell. At his first glimpse of Satan, the man protested, “What are you doing? I didn’t choose you! I chose the fence!” To which Satan grinned widely and replied, “I know, but I own the fence.”
The Moral of the Story
The man in the story was given two choices: to live for God or the devil. He thought he was being smart by not choosing either one. He knew darkness was wrong and didn’t want to go to Hell. But he couldn’t bring himself to completely surrender to God either. He still wanted to live for himself and be in control of his own life.
For a time, he was happy right there on the edge of the light. He was close enough to see it shine and feel secure that he wasn’t in darkness. But he wasn’t all the way in the light where he would have to present his body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), crucify his flesh, take up his cross, and conform himself to the Word of God (Matthew 16:24). But the Bible says “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?“ (Matthew 16:25-26).
Lots of People on the Fence
There are lots of people on the fence today. They believe in Jesus with their minds. They may even pray, go to church, and listen to Christian music on the radio. Prayer after prayer, they send to the ceiling, asking God to bless them in the choices they make for the lives they live for themselves. God never talks back, and nothing about them seems to change. They still live like the world, talk like the world, and find their greatest pleasure in the things of this life. They are happy on the fence, knowing they are not in darkness but giving up nothing required to enter into the light. But the middle ground is an illusion from the Deceiver himself. The edge of the light is still darkness, and Satan owns the fence.
The Bible Has the Same Message
But this isn’t just the twist-ending of a fictional story. It’s also a biblical truth. Revelation 3:16 says, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Hot drinks are warm and comforting. Cold drinks are cool and refreshing. Lukewarm drinks are disgusting, and that’s the way God sees lukewarm faith.
In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus tells us that the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. People who name the name of Christ but don’t live for Him as their one and only God, King, Master, and sovereign Lord show that they don’t really believe He is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. Their careless attitude toward the one who shed His own blood as a propitiation for their sins is not “saving faith.” (Read Lordship Salvation: What Does It Mean to Believe?) Retaining control means that we are, in effect, the “god” of our own lives. But God must be our only God; otherwise, we can only expect final rejection.
We Must Heed the Call
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9
In the story, God called to the man. He held out His hand and invited him to leave his life of self and live for God alone. It’s a big decision that requires careful consideration, for sure. In Luke 14:28, Jesus reminds His would-be disciples to count the cost. And Matthew 7:14 says that ultimately, most people aren’t going to choose it.
Only a very few will decide to go through the strait gate on the narrow path that leads to life. Share on XMy Testimony
But make no mistake; the light is marvelous! I can tell you as a former lukewarm fence-sitter that my life is indescribably better after heeding His call. My testimony is that I sat on the fence for 41 years. To be honest, I never really had any role models who taught me any differently. I had no idea what it even looked like to have a true, two-way relationship with God, much less for God to be in control. Then one day God called me to lay down my life and go “all in.” He held out His hand. I took it, and He pulled me off the fence and into His light.
My prayers became praises and questions about how He wanted me to live. He showed me that – unlike the ceiling – He speaks back! John 10:27-28 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”
The life I lived for myself in the world was hollow and full of self-medicating and unmet desires for love and acceptance. Now I’m never alone. My Lord Jesus is with me and for me. He hears me and guides me and loves me and gives me purpose. The things that He has asked me to give up absolutely pale in comparison to the love relationship I have with my Savior.
He has shown me that His ways are higher, and His plans are better than anything I could think up for myself anyway. He meets every one of my needs and gives me many of my “wants.” Jehovah is a good, good God, Father, Best Friend, and First Love. Through all my mistakes, He has been patient and kind, teaching me gently and with love. My only regret is waiting so long to get off the fence.
Have you been hearing Him call? (This is your confirmation.)
One thing the Lord has taught me clearly is that surrender, much like forgiveness, is a choice. We choose it with our will and then ask the Lord to help us walk it out – and trust that He will. We don’t have to have it all figured out. In fact, He’s asking us NOT to try (Proverbs 3:5-6). If you are tired of living life on your own and are ready to make the Lord Jesus Christ your one and only God, find a place to be alone and pray this prayer out loud.
“Dear God. I have believed in You for a long time. I know that Jesus died for my sins and rose again on the third day. You are now just waiting for me to make a choice to live for you. Today, I choose You. I’m done living for myself. There is nothing in this world that can satisfy me like a true relationship with my Creator. There is nothing in this life that is more important to me than being with You for all eternity.
God, I surrender my life to You completely. I don’t know what that will look like at this moment, but I will do whatever it takes (by Your grace). I trust You! Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Lead me and guide me into Your will for my life. Teach me Your ways and show me what it means to serve You. I love You and look forward to Your reply. Amen!”
Then plan to pray and (prayerfully) read the Bible every day. Make it a date that you seldom, if ever, break. Listen for Him to speak to you through the Word of God and confirm with His Spirit that you have been born again. (Read Are You Lukewarm? 3 Steps to Red Hot.)
No Longer at the Edge of the Light
“This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”
1 John 1:5
Like the man in the story, every person on earth has a choice to make between the darkness and the light. And, like the fence in the story, Satan owns all the “middle ground.” The Bible confirms this in Romans 8:5-9. It says that those who live for this world do not have the Spirit, or the life of God, in them. Without the Spirit, we can’t please God, and we don’t belong to Him either. Today, God is calling all fence sitters to take His great hand and allow Him to pull you from the edge of the light all the way into it. His great sacrifice on the cross makes eternity with Him possible, but it is our answer to the call that makes it sure. Respond today!
Interested in making Jesus your Lord? Try Lordship Salvation: What Does It Mean to Believe? Please sign up to receive my blog in your email inbox. You can find that at the upper right of your screen (or at the bottom on a phone). Also, check out my YouTube Channel where I read the blogs out loud. I also have a playlist of hymns from my church.
