Living on the Edge

As seen in the HEARTbeat the Village Voice

“Living on the Edge”

As many of you read the title of this short article, if you’re a fan of music, the first thing that popped into your mind is a song by Aerosmith titled Livin’ on the Edge.  The first lyrics you hear go like this: There's something wrong with the world today, I don't know what it is, something's wrong with our eyes, we're seeing things in a different way, and God knows it ain't His, it sure ain't no surprise, yeah.  Oh, how appropriate are these words when we contemplate the state of our country, this world!  It seems what was once taboo is now commonplace.  What was only spoken of behind closed doors is now seen on primetime television.  What has gone wrong with our society?

What we have also seen over the last few decades is the Christian community come under fire, and literally in some instances.  Churches have been burned to the ground.  People have been arrested for quietly standing alone on a sidewalk and praying.  Just the simple act of bowing one’s head while standing outside an abortion clinic caused a woman in England to be arrested.  Children are being subjected to things they certainly don’t understand, and books are being found in school libraries that when read in public causes adults to blush!  Even God’s Holy Word is being questioned as authentic and true.  Where do we as Christians go?  I tell you, start livin’ on the edge.

This world is not our home.  Before Jesus left this earth, He told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them, and us.  No matter what happens to us in this life, we know it is caused by living in this world.  My advice is to turn your back on this world and start walking.  When you reach the edge, when you’ve gone as far as you can go, and you are standing on the shoreline looking out into the vastness of the sea, there is only one place you can go, and that is to God Himself.

Scripture tells us that we cannot be friends with the things of this world and also a friend with God.  James even writes to be a friend of this world is to be an enemy of God.  Just as in the lyrics of the song, God sees what is going on in this world, and He knows it is none of His doing.  We know the source of all this evil, and that is why I say to turn your back on this world.  In doing so you turn your back to the guiles and temptations of the evil one.

When we turn our backs on this world and turn our eyes toward Jesus, we are in the very place He wants us to be.  We rely on Him, we converse with Him, and He with us.  Start livin’ on the edge and turn your full face toward God!