Life in the Fringe
Deep down you feel it, don't you? Maybe not when you're in line at Starbucks or hanging out at the mall…but in the dark recesses of the night when you're all alone you sense something.
Not a physical presence, because I'm not referring to something your eyes can see directly. Much like the wind, you can't observe it straight up, yet the results of its invisible force are obvious.
This is the premise of Fox's hit show Fringe - which chronicles the adventures of an FBI team that investigates unexplained occurrences. Because they appear unsolvable by ordinary means, they have to use "fringe" examination methods in attempting to unravel the paranormal messes that keep popping up.
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Of course that's just a well produced television series that takes full advantage of CGI and other special effects to create the illusion that our universe runs parallel with a whole other unseen world…right?
Yeah, right. The paranormal world of Fringe exists in the minds of the writers and the designs of the producers, but don't be fooled into thinking that there isn't a very real and very dangerous parallel universe that intersects ours on a minute by minute basis. The Bible is as stuffed as a holiday turkey with accounts and examples of these two worlds colliding with shocking and life altering results. Now you can deny or ignore this truth, but that does not make the reality of the spiritual world any less real. You are living in the fringe, so I would highly recommend being informed and aware of how to survive and conquer.
Ready?
Survival tip #1 - Open your eyes!
Because you possess an eternal soul, you have two levels of awareness. One, obviously, is what you observe on a physical level, but that is only half the equation. We need to ask God the same thing that a prophet of God prayed for his freaked out servant when they were surrounded by an enemy force:
When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. "Oh, sir, what will we do now?" the young man cried to Elisha.
"Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!" Then Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!" The LORD opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:15-17).
Can you imagine? The servant thought they were completely outmatched - but in reality there was an angelic force surrounding their enemies that dwarfed their numbers by comparison. Ask God to make you aware of His presence and protection even in the midst of the most frightening circumstances.
Survival tip #2 - Open Fire!
Far too many Christians live on the fringe of the fringe. We sometimes think that being a Christ follower is occasionally showing up for church, praying before meals and tests, and reading the Bible when the mood strikes them. Hey guys, that's like being drafted into the military during war time and showing up to the battle armed with an i-Pad and wearing footy pajamas!
Bottom line: there is no neutral position in this war. You either take your journey with Jesus Christ seriously, or you will be seriously rocked. Get in the game by suiting up each day with the armor God has graciously provided us:
Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God's justice protect you like armor. Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Let God's saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God's message that comes from the Spirit (Ephesians 6:14-17, CEV).
Survival tip #3 - Open your mouth!
This battle is about the destiny of humanity - which includes your friends who don't know about the good news of Jesus Christ. Trust me, no one has ever been saved by watching Christians, which is why we need to join the Apostle Paul and all the saints who made this their daily prayer request:
"Pray also for me. Pray that when I open my mouth, the right words will be given to me. Then I can be bold as I tell the mystery of the good news. So pray that I will be bold as I preach the good news. That's what I should do" (Ephesians 6:19,20b).
You are living in a dual reality where the physical and spiritual worlds collide each day in a battle for souls. Will you choose today to let God open your eyes? Will you open fire on the enemy? Will you open your mouth and share the gospel with your friends?
Let's get off the fringe of the fringe and make an eternal difference in both worlds!
Flashpoint: Ignite Into Action
Commit today to start each day by asking God to open your eyes and "suiting up" with His armor. Then go out each day with the attitude of opening your mouth and opening fire in the daily battle that God calls you to take part in.
Accelerant: Feed the Fire
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12).
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left (2 Corinthians 6:4-7).
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
