Straight Lines & Crooked Lives

This week, I was out in the church parking lot with striping equipment, laying down fresh lines so cars could park neatly. At first glance, it seems like a simple job—just push the machine forward. But I quickly learned something important: if I looked up, my lines started drifting. The only way to stay straight was to keep my eyes locked on the line ahead of me.

And here’s the truth: even then, not every line came out perfect. Some wavered, some leaned, some were a little off. But you know what? They still worked. People can still park. The lot still serves its purpose.

Eyes on Jesus

That striping machine taught me something about following Jesus. In Hebrews 12:2, we’re told to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Just like I had to keep my eyes on the previous line to stay straight, we need to keep our eyes on Him to walk the right path. The moment we look away—distracted by the world, by problems, or by our own pride—our “lines” begin to drift.

Imperfect but Useful

Not every line I painted was perfect, and not every step of our lives will be flawless either. We stumble, we fail, we fall short of God’s standard. But here’s the grace-filled truth: even in our imperfection, people can still look at us and see Jesus. Just like drivers can still park in slightly crooked spots, people can still see the love of Christ in us even when we’re not perfect.

A Work in Progress

Parking lots don’t stay freshly painted forever. Over time, the lines fade, chip, and need to be redone. In the same way, our walk with Christ is ongoing. We continually come back to Him, letting Him renew us, strengthen us, and help us keep our focus.

So, if you feel like your lines aren’t straight today—if your walk with Jesus hasn’t been perfect—take heart. Fix your eyes back on Him, and keep moving forward. He can take your imperfect lines and still make a beautiful parking lot out of your life.

Think About It

Pastor James Socials