The more we observe the apostasy in politics and religion, the more we realize the need of a balanced biblical separation. Once again, we need to recognize that separation has two sides: the horizontal, which separates us by the grace of God from sin, error, and compromise; and the vertical, which separates us in the grace of God unto purity, unity, and Christ.
A number of years ago we read the story about a little city named Bristol: one side of the city was in Virginia; the other side in Tennessee. The state line ran along the center of the main street. There were two corporations, two mayors, two governing councils, two sets of police, two systems of public schools, two plants for water supply, two everything. For a long time the main street was not paved because the line ran up next to the houses on the Virginia side. The Virginia corporation would not pave the northern half because it did not belong to them, and the Tennessee corporation would not pave it because they received no taxes from the property adjoining it.
Much trouble arose, too, from criminals who would commit some offense in one state and hurry over into the other, the officers having to get a requisition from the governor in order to bring them to justice. This delay gave opportunity for escape, and in case of minor offenses they were neglected.
At one time the Virginia side, in a local option election, voted out the saloons, believing that Tennessee would do the same; but the "Drys" in a state election were out-voted by other sections, and lost. So though one side had no saloons, it was only necessary to cross the street to get all the drinks wanted.
The strict marriage laws of Virginia and the lax laws of Tennessee made this city a great mecca for "runaway couples," and many amusing as well as sad cases were constantly coming to light. Arrests by officers of the law due to telegrams from pursuing parents broke up fond hopes, for the trains stopped on the Virginia side.
The Tennessee water company tried to run its pipes into Virginia property. The president was arrested. A test case was made, and it finally went to the United States Supreme Court. The line between Virginia and Tennessee, beginning at the Atlantic, runs straight west until it reaches White Top Mountain. Virginia claimed that this line should have continued straight west, and sued Tennessee for nine miles of territory. People often did not know where they lived, whether in Virginia or Tennessee; and those who had married in Tennessee did not know what Virginia's attitude would be toward those marriages which her own laws did not approve. The people over in Lynchburg or Petersburg or Richmond had no such questionings.
Needless to say, living on the line between Virginia and Tennessee was quite complicated. There are problems caused by living on the line. There are problems living on the line which would be no problems at all if the person did not live there. Where do you live, friend? Are you living on the line?
These observations suggest a few of the many problems that come to those living on the line. We must live over in the State of Righteousness and Grace, away from the line. Doubts as to the conversion and victory in a Christian's life come often from doubtful things. The Bible teaches us to live away from the questionable borderline. We should not live our lives simply at the border of good and evil; we must see the blessedness of living away from the border, over in the State of Grace—good and best! We should cease trying to live as near the devil's territory as we can. It is not simply a matter of our personal salvation; it is a matter of that which truly exalts the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Christian lives on the borderline, others will get the idea that to be a Christian is to give up pleasure. In reality, the Christian gains great joy! The Christian life is not to be understood as a way to have more fun; it is a cross-bearing life that gains great joy! Those who live on the line carry religion around like a sick headache and are the most unhappy people you would meet. This kind of "Christian" is more unhappy than an outright sinner. Unhappiness of the biblical kind comes as a result of trying to serve God and the devil at the very same time. With Christ, the world loses its charm. Many think they have lost Christ when, in reality, they have lost the manifestation of His presence simply because they are living on the line. "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John 14:21).
If you are living on the line, move away today. Allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in your life, so others will see Christ and it will allow them to rejoice with you.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (II Cor. 6:17-18).