1 Kings 22:4
And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.
Jehoshaphat had a great problem that hurt his life. His problem was that he never drew a line of where he would stop associating with the wrong crowd. Jehoshaphat never drew a line for truth; therefore, he never stood against his brethren, as we see in his association with Ahab and others who were not doing right. I’m sure that Jehoshaphat was a good man, but just because he was a good man did not make it right to compromise. Jehoshaphat would not have had the friends he had if he had not been a kind man, but kindness does not mean you are standing for truth.
The great need of our day is for God’s people to draw a line on when they will separate from others and fight for truth. If you draw no line, you will continue to move until it is too late. If you are unwilling to draw a line, you will eventually lose your children to the wrong crowd, as did Jehoshaphat. You can say you are standing for truth, but what is truth if you don't draw a line? The line says this is truth; if you cross it, I will fight against any place or anyone who tries to move that line because that line is truth, and truth is paramount to what we hand to the next generation. Sadly, too many say they will fight for truth but are silent when the line is moved. I find four areas every believer should draw the line and be willing to fight against those who attempt to move those lines.
First, draw a line on God’s Word. You must first determine which is God’s Word, and then fight for it when it is attacked. Either the King James Bible is God’s Word or it is not; if it is, it is worth fighting over. Those who are unwilling to fight for the King James Bible are revealing they don't believe it is God’s every word, inspired and preserved Word of God. God’s Word is a MUST for which we should be willing to fight over.
Second, draw a line on salvation. Anyone who makes salvation more complicated than God does should find themselves in a battle because they have moved the lines. If we are unwilling to fight over the simplicity of salvation, then what will we fight over? Salvation is as simple as trusting Christ alone to be saved. Anyone who makes it more difficult than that should find a war waged against them.
Third, draw a line on the local church. The local church has always been under attack from denominational-minded people who believe that we can accomplish more if everyone will lay aside their pettiness so we can all get along. What they are really saying is that we should compromise anything for the sake of unity. My friend, God only commands the local church to have unity; He never commanded like-minded churches to join in unity. The local church is paramount to what we believe and should be something we are willing to fight over.
Fourth, draw a line on associations. When someone brings in people who do not believe like us, it should cause us to be willing to sound the alarm. Associations do matter because they reveal what we do and do not really believe. If you are willing to bring in someone who does not believe like you, you are revealing that you don't believe what you say you believe. Associations are critical and should be something we fight over because associations reveal your direction, and direction reveals future positions you will hold.
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