NO LINE

Lines. And more lines. And more lines. Then, more still. Although I knew the scripture’s meaning had nothing to do with what we were experiencing, its words kept running through my mind like a news ticker ribbon crawling across the bottom of a newscast: “line upon line, line upon line…” (Isa. 28:10). We waited in line to board the shuttle at the econo-parking lot’s stop 13. We waited in line to get off the shuttle at the airport. We stood in line to go through security. There was a line to board the plane and a line to de-board the plane. Then there was a line at the car rental. A line to board the shuttle for the theme park. A line to go through security at the park. A line to get through the gate into the park. At this point, the lines had only begun. There were lines up to two hours long for the attractions. Lines that twisted through labyrinths and gates with periodic displays or instructions to mislead one into thinking he was coming to the line’s end. (By the way someone should know that the synonym for line is spelled queue and not cue. Yes, I proofread the signs while waiting in line.). There were lines at the restrooms. Lines at the restaurants. Lines to buy popcorn. Lines to get a drink. Lines for a shaded bench. Lines to take a photo. The exit from the park required lines at gates, ferries, and buses. As I said to my family when accused of it, “Complaining? No! None of what I just said is complaining; it is just observing!” At some point I began to think how good we have it with God. Not only has He invited us to come before Him in His throne room, but no one must stand in line to do so. There is never a line to wait in. This is so remarkable. Right now, there are 7.5 billion people on earth. If every one of those billions of people decided to enter God’s throne room at this very moment, there would be no line. There would be no wait. There would be no maze to traverse. There would be no gates, creating traffic jams, to funnel through. No! Each would have immediate access into the throne room of God. Each would be first in line. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:16). Wow! Think of the images on the news of these massive, long, serpentine lines of folks waiting to get in to a certain venue to see the president of the United States. And, yet, to get in and “see” God, there is no line. At the theme park at the entrance gates of attractions were signs with the wait time. Nothing to elevate the spirit like seeing a sign over the gate you’re entering that says, “Wait Time: 115 minutes.” With God there is no wait. I’m glad there is no line to God’s throne room. But, if there were, I imagine I would wait in it. However long it was and long it took, that’s one line I’d be happy to stand in.

NO LINE

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