As I write today’s devotional, I will confess to a bit of historical ignorance. The Mason-Dixon line. I was familiar with the term and, obviously, if there is a line, it must mean there is a geographical division. I knew that it had something to do with the south. But, beyond that, I really knew nothing about it. So, as I write devotionals and start out with opening stories, I seek not only to enlighten the reader but the writer as well.
If you already knew this, good for you!! Your history teachers did a great job and/or you paid attention in class.
Two early colonist families, the Penns and Calverts, hired Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, to survey the land and settle their dispute “over the boundary between their two proprietary colonies, Pennsylvania and Maryland… Though both colonies claimed the area between the 39th and 40th parallel, what is now referred to as the Mason-Dixon line finally settled the boundary at a northern latitude of 39 degrees and 43 minutes. The line was marked using stones, with Pennsylvania’s crest on one side and Maryland’s on the other.
“When Mason and Dixon began their endeavor in 1763, colonists were protesting the Proclamation of 1763, which was intended to prevent colonists from settling beyond the Appalachians and angering Native Americans. As the Britons concluded their survey on this day in 1767, the colonies were engaged in a dispute with the Parliament over the Townshend Acts, which were designed to raise revenue for the empire by taxing common imports including tea.”1
As time progressed, the Mason-Dixon line became the dividing point between southern states that wanted to retain slavery and the north that wanted to abolish it. The original line of demarcation separated Pennsylvania and Delaware from West Virginia and Maryland. The unofficial line was extended along the southern borders of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa. Markers from the original Mason-Dixon line exist
today.
Once a line is drawn, you must decide to which side you belong. Indecision cannot exist. You cannot straddle the line and try to be on both sides. That’s true in American history and geography. It’s especially true Scripturally.
In 1 Kings 18, we read about the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Verses 20-21 say, “So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. (21) And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” Seriously?!? The people of God couldn’t decide whose side they were on! That is pathetic!
Lest you think I’m being critical, let me assure you that I am – I am being critical – and the criticalness is not just about Bible days but how history has repeated itself in our own generation.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” A line of demarcation has been drawn between the world and the believers. We are told to separate but too often, we try to straddle the line.
Today, make a decision that Joshua called the people to make. God has already established the boundaries. All that’s left to be decided is whose side we are on. Joshua 24:14-15 says, “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. (15) 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.”
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mason-and-dixon-draw-a-line
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