"A LINE IN THE SAND"

 

 

(Josh 24:15 KJV)  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

 

 

On February 24, 1836 the following letter was written to The People of Texas and all Americans in the world, fellow citizens and compatriots:

 

I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna - I have sustained a continual bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man.  The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if it is taken - I have answered the demands with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls.  I shall never surrender or retreat.

Then I call on you in the name of Liberty and patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch.  The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to 3 or 4,000 in 4 or 5 days.  If this call is neglected I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country - Victory or Death!

William Barrette Travis, Lt. Col. Comdt.

 

History tells us that this letter received little response from the outside.  The only reinforcements Travis received were 32 men from Gonzales.

 

As the Mexican armies encircled the Alamo it became more and more apparent that Travis and his men had no chance for victory.  And so, one story says that on the afternoon of March 3, 1836 Travis explained to his men that remaining in the Alamo meant certain death.  According to the story, Travis took his sword and drew a line on the ground.  All who wished to stay and defend the Alamo were asked to cross the line, all but one did, a man by the name of Louis Rose, because he later said, I was not ready to die.

 

LIFE HAS DRAWN A LINE:

Life is expecting something out of us.  In fact life expects a contribution from all mankind - yet all do not contribute to life.  Some are takers - others are givers.

 

We get only one chance at contributing to the world: (Heb 9:27 KJV) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

 

Esther was counseled:  (Est 4:14 KJV)  For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

 

We are not forced to contribute something of lasting value or importance - but rather we must decide to cross the line, to commit to the defense of the cause, and willingly lay down our life.

 

Most wont commit because like Louis Rose “They are not ready to die”  But does not the scripture tell us that “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” – Matt. 10:39 .

 

It was the self sacrifice of those who crossed the line at the Alamo that created the battle cry for the fight for Texas Independence “Remember the Alamo ”

 

By crossing the Line drawn by life and the Lord we show that we are committing to the cause for which we were created - the greater good, the defense of the gospel, the salvation of souls.

 

Many refuse to cross the line for Jesus because they say “I’m not willing to die yet”.  Rose might have escaped the fight at the Alamo - but for the rest of his natural life he had to remember “When I could have made my contribution I ran to save my life, when in fact I truly died that day”. 

 

In his speech in 1836 Travis is reported to have said these words:

 

“But I leave every man to his choice.  Should any man prefer to surrender, and be tied and shot; or attempt an escape through the Mexican ranks, and be killed before he can run a hundred yards, he is at liberty to do so”

 

Col. Travis then drew his sword and with its point traced a line upon the ground, extending from the right to the left of the file.  The resuming his position in front of the center, he said I now want every man who is determined to stay here and die with me to come across this line.  Who will be the first?  March”

 

And today - though unseen to the natural eye - yet beheld through the eyes of the spirit, Jesus is here - Drawing a line, and asking the question who will be first to cross?

 

Joshua’s question rings through the corridors of time “Choose you this day whom you will serve!”

 

There is a time, we know not when, a place we know not where, that marks the destiny of men to glory or despair.