Nations have lines of invisibility. New Guinea has such a line. You can not see it with the natural eye but step over it and you will become an alien, a law breaker and an illegal entrant. Korea has a line of invisibility. Not seen by the natural eye but cross it and you could be shot, declared a spy or taken captive for the rest of your life. Ireland has such a line. Cross it and few would notice, for this line divides thinking, divides hearts, politics and religious convictions.
The are many lines of invisibility in the scriptures. Where did Joseph’s brothers cross over to the dark side of love? Was it when their father paid undue preference for the son of his old age, Joshua or was it when their jealousy burned so ferociously it turned to hate. Good trees produce good fruit, bad trees only produce bad fruit. You know when the line of invisibility is crossed by the fruit it produces.
There was a line of invisibility around Mary, mother of Jesus. Society and religious mindsets of the day would never accept that the mother of the Messiah, the one who was to carry the Saviour of the world, would be young, female, ‘from the wrong side of the tracks’, one who felt inadequate and far from favoured by anyone (let alone God), pregnant and unwed. When did she cross the line of invisibility? Was it when the angel told her how highly favoured she was in God’s sight or was it when she believed God and accepted His high calling on her life. The good fruit is manifested through Mary’s Song where she glorifies God and beholds herself as a humble servant before Him. (Luke 1:46-56)
His prophets are not exempt from crossing the line of invisibility. When did Elijah cross that line? Was it when he began to believe that He was the only prophet alive as Jezebel had killed them all or was it when he ran from God and hid in the desert and then in a cave? The fruit was fear, a silent God and loss of direction. To return to God he had to hear His voice and obey.
Lines of invisibility are built around us by family expectations, religious thoughts, old mindsets, disappointments, failure to seek God’s favour, unbelief, our expectations of what God should do and loss of love. When we repent (turn around completely and go in a new direction) and seek His face then the fruit will be that of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fruitfulness, gentleness and self control. Our old nature, the other side of the line of invisibility, our old man, has been crucified with its passions and desires. Let us live by the Spirit and keep instep with Him , not crossing over the line of invisibility by becoming conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Gal. 5:22-26)