The BARRIER: The Barrier between the Kingdoms
David
Although the book of Acts tells this story in only a few sentences,
each of those 3000 men had to overcome his own personal obstacles to
surrendering his life. There were many wives and children, parents and
siblings, farms and businesses, employees, possessions, and debts to be
considered. Probably not all of their families and friends were
overjoyed at the decisions they made that day to give up everything to
follow this resurrected Messiah who could only be seen in His people.
It took great courage for those men to walk out the confessions of
faith they made that day, at any cost.[24]
The barrier that holds men captive in the domain of darkness, although
invisible, is every bit as real as was the Berlin Wall. Instead of
concrete and wire, it is woven of fear, shame, insecurity,
intimidation, anxiety, peer pressure, emotional attachments, pride, and
countless worldly entanglements. When someone is truly weary of his
servitude to the evil prince of this world and the weight of his own
guilt, and hears the voice of the Righteous One through His servants,
and is drawn to the light emanating from their camp, he or she will
inevitably come face-to-face with this barrier. All manner of obstacles
will bar the way - an unwilling spouse, rebellious children,
financial responsibilities, the pleas, promises, threats, and warnings
of family and friends... The tentacles of the unseen realm of darkness
will reach out through every earthly tie to tighten their grip on any
who dare attempt escape.
It is not that the blood of the Son of God was insufficient to pay the
ransom for all, but all are not willing to do His will.[25] All are not
thirsty enough to overcome every obstacle that keeps them from drinking
the water of life:
"I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who
thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his
God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly and unbelieving and
abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and
idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns
with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:6-8)
Those who are too cowardly to overcome the obstacles betray the fact of
their unbelief. Preferring the pitiful comforts of their captivity,[26]
they show contempt for the blood that was shed for them and become
guilty of it, classing themselves as the worst of criminals.[27]
There is no toll gate at the entrance to the kingdom of light. The
abundant life of the Son of God is freely given. But just like that
tunnel under the Berlin Wall, the way of escape that leads to the
kingdom is narrow and difficult, and few are they who even find it.[28]
Nothing of the old life can pass through it, which is why only those
who hate their life in this world will be able to make the passage.[29]
They are the only ones who will be united with Him in the likeness of
His death, and serve Him where He is.
"For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death,
certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing
this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin
might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For
he who has died has been freed from sin." (Romans 6:5-7)
[24] Matthew 10:34-39
[25] John 7:17; Hebrews 5:9; Acts 5:32
[26] Luke 6:24
[27] Matthew 11:23-24
[28] Matthew 7:13-14
[29] John 12:25-26
(excerpted from "The Barrier", found at
http://www.TheLitmusTest.org/the-barrier.html )