A Line in the Sand
A line in the sand.
That’s how Our State Magazine described NC Highway 12 in a story published back in 2020.
Highway 12 is not your typical state highway. Some refer to it as a “scenic byway,” but that doesn’t really do it justice. Spanning 148 miles along North Carolina’s northeastern coast, Highway 12 is a ribbon of a road connecting the sound and sea - a literal line in the sand - and the only surface route snaking through all of the towns and villages of the state’s barrier islands, the area more famously known as the Outer Banks.
More than a multi-billion dollar tourism area, the barrier islands that make up the Outer Banks are our state’s first line of defense. Created by giant deposits of sand that have been washed ashore for thousands of years, they guard the Carolina mainland during extreme weather events. But whipping winds, wild waves, and shifting sands are constantly transforming its topography. While the natural elements of the Outer Banks respond to the energetic forces of nature well, naturally, Highway 12 is less adaptable. This man-made sliver of asphalt endures constant environmental attacks and never-ending reconstruction projects to keep the only lifeline for vacationers and residents from washing away; a real reminder of the delicate balance between the land and the sea, the tangible and ethereal, fragility and resilience. Isn’t this similar to the fine line we walk in our Christian faith?
There’s a constant tension between our sinful nature and pursuit of God’s holiness. Even King David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), wasn’t immune. David penned Psalm 51 after committing the worst of the worst sins - lust, adultery, lying and murder (2 Samuel 11:2-15). Owning up to these sins, David humbly comes before God. First, he cries out for mercy, asking for forgiveness and spiritual cleansing, not once but with several illustrations:
Wash away all my iniquity (v2a)
Cleanse me from my sin (v2b)
Purge me with hyssop, and I will be clean (v7a)
Wash me and I will be white than snow (v7b)
David knows he is helpless on his own and can only rely on God to forgive him and wash away his sins. But then he goes a step further. Just as the ocean tides continually turn over, reshaping and transforming the shores, David cries out for grace, pleading with God to reshape and transform his heart:
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (v10).
Like the tides ebbing and flowing twice a day, our struggle with sin is a push-and-pull battle. A battle that can only be conquered by an unwavering, steadfast reliance on God. The infinite rhythm of the seas sweep the shore clean, just as God’s grace and forgiveness will never cease.
The apostle John illustrated this in his letter to the earliest generations of Christians who were also wavering on that fine between truth and doubt: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(1 John 1:9). God will not push us away no matter how ugly our sin may be. Instead, he will pull us closer.
There’s a rumor among locals and off-season vacationers that Autumn on the Outer Banks may be the true peak season. A dramatic shift occurs as the summer heat and crowds give way to a more serene and striking environment. The air is crisper, the sand is cooler, the skies are more brilliant, and the wind has just a little more zeal as it blows sand, salt, and sea across the dunes and marshes; a reminder that the only constant is knowing the forces of nature and God’s power are in control. Humbly submit to God’s power and let his boundless waves of mercy and grace wash over you.
~ Originally from PA, Jennifer Korinchak became smitten with the Lake Norman area back in the early 2000s. She has lived here since 2014 and has been attending Life Fellowship with her husband Nate, and son Caleb since 2020.