"Please cross the line..."

Those were just a few questions thrown in during a session in Monroe High School in USA as broadcasted by Oprah Winfrey show that day, themed Breaking Down Barriers. It was one of the most moving events I have ever seen throughout the whole Oprah's sessions so far. I was freezed for about an hour to see the power of forgiveness, love and reconciliation as demonstrated heartfully by the students in that high school.

In that particular session, students and teachers were asked to cross a line in their gymn that would then separated them from the crowd and they would then stand facing the crowd. As they were crossing the line we could see how they looked to their right and left and the unspeakable expression on their face as they saw other people who had gone through the same thing crossing the line together with them. And when they were standing across the crowd, they got to see people facing them sending the "I love you" symbol in sign language. 'I've got your back'.

It is the picture of many of us as well, is it not? As we walk our own pathdown the road of life, often the path we take seems to separate us from the rest of the world. Whereby people around us are laughing and joyfully living their life, we seem to be the few unlucky ones having to deal with hidden painful issues. We desperately want at least someone who is meaningful to us to send that 'I love you' sign...

Back to the show, as the hour moved on however, I got to see the students and teachers delivering their tearfully apologies for ever hurting someone at that school. The seeds of reconciliation were apparent. Barriers were broken down. Their lives were changed. They will never be the same again. They started to understand the power of forgiveness, love and reconciliation.

In that one simple and precious verse everything that happened at Monroe High School that day was completely covered. For them only? No. But also for me... And for you, too...
When God sent His only begotten Son, He sent Him to redeem the sinners who did not even know Him. To the sinners who then mercilessly crucify that only begotten Son. And when the one and only rightful cry ever was shouted "Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani (My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me)?", it received no answer. Not even one. God was silent. Or so it seemed, was it not?

Unlike those people in Monroe who received the "I love you" symbol in sign language as they exposed their pains, Jesus Christ received nothing but humiliation, name-callings, beatings, physical abuses, abandonment. Name them all. Fair? Now, we start questioning what the true meaning of fairness. But we all then know too well that as death was swallowed by life so was the power of God's love claimed each and every sinner back to His loving arms through His perfect defeat against the power of darkness. "Sinners?", you asked me. "But I am a sinner," again you told me. And here I am telling you my dear brothers and sisters, "Yes, sinners. You. And me, definitely. Us!"

"But, why," you asked me again. Please, allow me to share this with you...
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
Ephesians 2:10 NASB
Think back to what happened at Monroe, as you see yourself crossing that line screaming your heart out for every hidden pain, every tear shed, every abandonment and loneliness you are facing. Whom do you see following your every step crossing that line? Anyone? No. Nobody. Nobody follows you as you look to your left and right. You are alone. Or so it seems, is it not?

As you keep on walking crossing that line and blinded by your welling up tears, never in your life before such disheartening abandonment felt. You now know what the Preacher meant when he said, "So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 4:2-3 NASB)
That is the end of the story. You are unloved. Alone. Abandoned. Unworthy. Chained. Doomed to live miserably forever. Full Stop. Or..., is it so?

Suddenly... you heard one soft voice calling your name. Suddenly, you knew that you were never alone. All through those times, you were never alone. As you look up, there you see Christ holding up His "I love you" sign to you! Look around you, now do you not see Him? He is everywhere you turn to. I love you... I love you...! I love you!!! The ever most beautiful sign you have seen.

That is who you really are. You were chosen before the foundation of the world for His glory. Bestowed by His grace, you are now the bearer of His love, a mirror of His wondrous work for the lost souls. Be what you are. What you really are. You have been forgiven, loved and reconciled into His love for this. From the very beginning that is what you are for. What happened at Monroe was a bit part of what He had, is and will always be doing for you.