What does “down the line” mean?

 

“Down the line” is a surf term. To surf “down the line," your board is turned to go down the wave, parallel to shore. To skate or snowboard “a line” is about the path you travel; to execute it well takes planning and focus. Athletes learn that your body or the ball will go where your eyes are looking. Focus is everything. We must always be looking ahead.

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In pursuing life with God, our eyes are fixed ahead on Jesus. In Matthew 14, Jesus walked on water and encouraged Peter to also step out of the boat - in faith. When Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he stayed on top of the water, but when he panicked and looked down, he began to sink.

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If a surfer looks down at the wave or their board, they can lose their balance. Surfers, skaters, and riders learn to focus their eyes on what’s ahead… and in life, we also need to fix our eyes ahead - not only to find our balance but for eternal life. Jesus is the Savior on whom we can fix our eyes.

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Furthermore, as ministers of the gospel commanded by the Great Commission, it is our job to always be looking "down the line" - raising up and equipping new generations of disciples to multiply the impact of the gospel. For this reason, Down the Line's mission by reaching youth with the gospel is to invest in youth as leaders who are sold out for Jesus and living intentionally for Him.

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