Straddling the Fence

Ephesians 4:17 “So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind" Vs. 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; Vs. 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Have you heard the terms “straddling the fence” or “walking a thin line”? For the most part this term is used for describing someone that is “border line”, i.e., not on one side or the other… or having a little of both!

In these verses, Paul lays out the dangers of “straddling the fence” to the church in Ephesus. Possibly to a mass of converted believers (Gentiles) from paganism, who might be straddling the fence or walking a thin line between their old and new ways of life. A line that on one side is intimacy with the peace and grace of God that brings joy, and the other side which is an empty, darkened, and decremented life of separation and misery. Paul knows the vulnerability and temptation for a believer to blend in with the world of unbelievers and warns them “that you walk no longer” (stop walking) in the “futility of their mind”. (In other words, with empty minds.) The picture of being empty minded can be better understood as sucking up all the immoral views of worldly thinking with the vacuum of the mind.

As believers, they are doing a balancing act or “straddling the fence”. On this fence, you are able to see both sides. Just a little lean to one side and over you go. By sucking up dirt and filth like a vacuum, they become heavy on one side “being darkened in their understanding”. Romans 1:21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Even though Romans 1:21 is speaking of the unbeliever, it can be applied to the believer who falls off the fence. The believer knows what God has to offer in the light of Jesus Christ for their life, but when they choose to turn away from the light, their understanding becomes darkened.

Paul continues to expound on what happens to the believer who is living life on the other side of the fence. Because of the willful “ignorance that is in them”, they sit in darkness and come to love the darkness more than the light. This “excluded (Alienated) them from the life of God”. They alienate themselves from the purpose and plan that God has for their life (“life of God”). This is a personal and volitional choice. The choice, however, to continue to suppress the truth that is evident to them, is selfish. James 3:14-16 “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. (15) This wisdom is not that which comes from above, but is earthly, natural, and demonic. (16) For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing”. When the choice is made to suppress the TRUTH, the understanding is darkened, and the believer excludes himself from the plan of God. This eventually develops into the condition of “hardness of their heart” which results in becoming “callus” (meaning cease to feel pain). Summed up this is Spiritual Leprosy... a Spiritual hardening of the heart that results in the feeling of no pain. Pain urges the sick to seek a remedy, where there is no pain, little is thought of seeking. At this point the Word of God no longer makes even the smallest of pinpricks to their conscience. The conviction is not there and the Spirit of God can no longer give the convicting feelings needed for Spiritual life.

Sadly, they “have given themselves over” (meaning give up or deliver up to treachery). The word “given” also used in the same manner for the betrayal Jesus Christ. God gave them up to the desires of their heart by withdrawing His preventing grace; their sin thus was made their punishment. Romans 1:24 Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They gave themselves up on their own to “sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness”. They had no sense of the misery and dangers of the sins they where commonly practicing. When believer reaches this place there are no boundaries for what they will do to gratify the desires of their flesh.

If you are a believer who is "straddling the fence" by having one foot in world and one foot in the Word, then Paul’s warning is for you. Eventually you will be drawn into the system of the world and suck up all of its filth. This is not a good place to be. This place leads to darkness, futility, separation, and hardness of the heart. In this is a place there is no peace, only misery. Therefore, follow the truth that you have in God’s Word instead of the lies of the world. The truth leads to light, the fullness of Christ, the plan of God, and heart that longs for truth. This is where true peace can be found. This warning from Paul is real! Don’t take it for granted! The WORD of GOD is the only stable ground on which to stand. Get off of the fence and jump into the WORD.