Cross-walk
14 But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Gal 6:14-16 (ASV)
On the University of Denver campus where I went to school for four years, there were two main cross streets, University and Evans. As there were classes conducted in each of the four quadrants they created, crossing them was something that took place several times a day. Because time was often limited in between classes and also because I just didn’t want to walk all the way down to the crosswalk, I became quite the ‘frogger’ (from that old video game where you try to get the frog across the busy street without getting squashed).
There was really an art to timing the four lanes of traffic so you could at least make it past the first two lanes to the middle where you could then slide through the next gap in traffic and make it intact to the other side. As I am able to sit here and write about it now, I obviously avoided the dangers involved in this practice, but it doesn’t mean that it was a peaceful stroll, no matter how good I thought I could do it. With vehicles hundreds of times my size zipping past at 30-40 miles an hour there was usually a bit of an adrenaline rush by the time I made it across, which often required breaking into a run.
All the while this extremely dangerous route was being chosen, there was waiting just a few extra feet down the sidewalk a lane designated for me and a light ready to stop all traffic for my safe passage. The walk across the street in the legal and safe way, which I did take from time to time, was definitely the peaceful choice, one that required very little acknowledgement of those dangerous objects that had been brought to a halt by the light.
In Christ a walkway has been made that will completely transform those busy and dangerous crossings that continually require our passage. Instead of having to focus intently upon each of the potentially damaging obstacles in our way, and rather than having to go through a heart spike with each narrow miss, God has provided a way for our walk to be a peaceful one, free of concern about those fast-moving ‘mountains of destruction’. His light will bring them to a complete stop. This way, though, is one that acknowledges in no way those fleshly elements that were once so important. Peaceful and safe passage only comes by uncompromised dependence upon the walkway of the Spirit. It might take a few more steps to get to the light and possibly a small wait, but there will be no concern for the dangers that come with every step as long as the abilities, accomplishments, and limited identifying elements of the flesh are given up for the Spirit-walk. In Christ we can be freed to walk confidently and securely in the way that requires us to only step out in faith that the Light will protect our passage. No other characteristic in us is required and in fact any focus on the flesh will only remove us from the protection of the walkway. In His timing it will be clear when to move and when to stop so that His Spirit alone can control the flow of all potential threats.
Anxiety, worry, stress, and heart attacks can be removed altogether from our walk today if we will but leave the insistence on our own crossing ability for the protection of the Light. We might otherwise survive, but peaceful passage will only take place in the Cross-walk.
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.Romans 8:4 (KJV)
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:16 (KJV)
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:24-25 (KJV)