One Foot In, One Foot Out

“You put one foot in, you put one foot out”—the line is either a slight rendition of the hokey pokey or a description of many in the church. It’s hard to fully commit, isn’t it? It’s much easier to test the waters, to dive in when you want and explore other avenues of life when you just need a change. Maybe you’ve even described a fellow believer as someone who has one foot in the church and one foot in the world.

Or maybe that describes you.

There’s good news, friend. You can plant both feet firmly and never miss out on the good things in life. Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Life. Joy. Pleasures. That doesn’t sound like a God or a lifestyle that is looking to rip you off by calling you to be all in with Him and with His people.

And make no mistake, friend. It is a call and a command.

The truth is, it is impossible to fully follow Jesus when you are still chasing after this world. Believers in Christ are called to be “set apart ones.” We don’t straddle the line. We stand on the right side of the line and call others to life. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

That thief, he wants to drag you to the side of the line that celebrates pleasure apart from Christ. He likes to take what God says is good and twist it just slightly. On that side of the line, we all begin to praise the created things over the Creator of all things. Provision becomes chasing money and idolizing achievement. Celebrating becomes binging on food or drink or an excuse to do the thing you wouldn’t do on a normal day. Attraction becomes lust or devaluing of life. Rest becomes laziness. The list goes on. The truth is, even if we have chosen to be all in with Jesus, we are still tempted by these things.

Yet, when we stand on the right side of the line, we find life to the full. Abundant life, and a compass that helps us correct when we get trapped in the thief’s snares. He’s tricky. But don’t fall for his antics.

Just as our Savior chose to go to a cross and give His very life to give us the opportunity to experience life eternal if we follow Him, so too we must sacrifice what we may see as good and familiar for what God says is rich and abundant.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 says, “But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

In this passage, Paul gives us the formula to live with both feet firmly planted on the side of life. He tells us how to be all in with Jesus. Flee the things that are only appealing in the moment. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight hard with and for the faith you claim. Embrace the life God has called you to, which is ultimately eternity with Him. And do all this with other believers who know you have claimed Christ and want to walk with you and hold you accountable to that call.

Don’t miss out on abundant life, friend. Plant both feet. Embrace what God says is good. And take part in the adventure and life He has called you to, both here and hereafter.