“Footprints in the
Sand” by Mark Littleton
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus walking down the road together. For
much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently,
rarely
varying the pace. But your prints are a disorganized stream of zigzags,
starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures and returns. For much
of the way it seems to go like this. But gradually, your footprints
come more
in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus
are walking as true friends.
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: your footprints
that once etched the sand next to the Master's are now walking precisely
in His steps. Inside His larger footprints is the small 'sand print',
safely enclosed. You and Jesus are becoming one.
This goes on for many miles. But gradually you notice another change.
The footprint inside the larger footprint seems to grow larger. Eventually
it disappears altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have
become one.
Again, this goes on for a long time. But then something awful happens.
The second set of footprints is back. And this time it seems even worse.
Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A
veritable mess of prints. You're amazed and shocked. But this is the
end of your dream.
Now you speak. "Lord, I understand the first scene with
the zigzags and fits and starts and so on. I was a new Christian, just
learning.
But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with
you."
"That is correct."
"Yes, and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours,
I was actually learning to walk in Your steps. I followed You very
closely."
"Very good. You have understood everything so far."
"Then the smaller footprints grew and eventually filled
in with Yours. I suppose that I was actually growing so much that I
was becoming
like you in every way."
"Precisely."
"But this is my question. Lord... Was there a regression
or something? The footprints went back to two, and this time it was
worse than the
first."
The Lord smiles, then laughs. "You didn't know?"
He says. "That was when we danced."
By Mark Littleton
© 1990
We all have a journey to make through life! Sometimes we walk close to Jesus,
at times we drift, and at other times we dance for joy! … So how is your walk?
The Apostle Paul made a great journey across the pages of life and
demonstrated how we can have strength for our journey, too! Some of that
journey is described in …
Gal 1:1
Paul, an apostle, not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ
and God the Father …
To have strength for the journey we must know our calling! Paul was
not hesitant in describing himself as an Apostle of Jesus Christ!
Our study of Ephesians chapter one gave us an understanding that as
Christians we are blessed, chosen, adopted, accepted, and redeemed! That
is a good foundation to build upon! Whether we are ten years old or a
hundred … we need to know where we stand with God. The next step following
is that we need to know our calling!
A calling is a description of your life’s work given to you by God.
Paul’s life’s calling did not come because someone appointed him as an
apostle! He didn’t ask someone if he was one! Your calling is not your
job. Not your occupation. Not your pastime activities … but your life’s
work. Your life’s work is spiritual in nature and may be accomplished
at home or at work. Your life’s work is the task given to you by God
for your fulfillment and joy!
In Ephesians chapter four, the work of ministry if broken into five
categories: First is the Apostle: the organizer. Second is the Prophet:
the teller of truth. Third is the Evangelist: the soul winner. The Fourth
is the Pastor: the care giver. And the Fifth is the Teacher: the one
who instructs. These are spiritual callings that fit life, church, and
work. Paul knew where he fit!
To know where you fit, seek the presence of God, read the Word, and
review the activities in life which you have enjoyed the most. Ask the
Lord to lead you into your calling … and He will.
To have strength for the journey we need to know our calling … and
we need to know the message of life!
Gal 1:3-4
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present
evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Gal 1:6-9
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you
in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another;
but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of
Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to
you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any
other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
The message of life, the simple Gospel of Christ, is that He gave Himself
for our sins and delivered us from the evil age! Paul understood the
power and the peace of the message and he stayed with it!
The tactic of Satan hasn’t changed. Once you accept Christ as your
savior, Satan attempts to change your mind about the message! If he can’t
get you to reject Christ … then he wants you to change the story … or
add to the story … or take part of the story away!
The Galatians had fallen prey to those who added to the story! They
had been persuaded that to be saved you were to believe on Jesus AND
you also had to keep the Old Testament Law of Moses. Paul said that was
a different gospel, adding that it wasn’t the gospel at all! This isn’t
good news! This is legalism! Then he calls it a perversion of the gospel!
If you are to have strength for your journey through life … you need
to know what the Gospel is … and what it isn’t! To be saved you must
confess your sins and place your faith in Christ for what He did for
you on the cross. He died for your sins.
Eph 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works
We are the workmanship of Christ in this world … and we can never add
the works of the flesh as a reason that we should go to heaven. Jesus
dying on the cross is the reason we have the opportunity to go to heaven!
Not works.
Knowing the message gives us a stability of knowing Christ does not
condemn us regardless of how we are feeling at the time. When difficulties
arise we can rely of the faithfulness of God to get us through. When
we fail in our endeavors we are confident that God is still for us and
not against us! However, if we believe we are approved by God because
of our works … we will live under a constant barrage of doubt and guilt!
To have strength for the journey we need to know our calling … and
we need to know the message of life … and we need to know our Source.
Gal 1
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached
by me is not according to man.
12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came
through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
*
Paul’s journey began with a revelation of Christ … and continued! He knew his
source for the journey! His footprints conformed to the footprints of Jesus!
EMPHASIS: his Gospel was not from men but from Jesus! The conversation was
ongoing!
Gal 1
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the
church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my
own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Paul’s footsteps in the sand can be tracked going the opposite direction
than what Jesus was going! But none of that is wasted in God’s planning!
God had been preparing Paul for his life’s work … his calling … even
before he came to Christ! Acts 22 says that he trained at the feet of
Gamaliel, the most noted scholar of the Old Testament Scripture that
the Jewish nation has ever known. According to tradition, Paul was being
prepared to follow him as the leading scholar of Israel. But God had
a better idea!
Gal 1
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and
called me through His grace,
16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles,
I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me;
but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained
with him fifteen days.
19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.
When it pleased God … Paul’s conversion and subsequent training in
following the will of God in his life was not taught to him by a group
of scholars … but by spending time in the presence of Jesus. After his
conversion he went to Arabia … the desert! His time in the desert and
in Damascus was a time of learning, growing, testifying, and preaching.
The end result of his spiritual growth was that he stirred his former
friends into a frenzy! The Pharisees of Damascus attempted to kill him
and his new friends let him down over the wall in a basket during the
middle of the night! Paul was learning to walk with Jesus!
Gal 1
21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in
Christ.
23 But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted
us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy."
Gal 2
1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas,
and also took Titus with me.
2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel
which I preach among the Gentiles,
Paul was living in Tarsus and preaching in the surrounding areas of
Syria and Cilicia. He was committed to living a daily life of commitment
to Christ without anyone’s notice or approval. Barnabas came to find
him and they ministered in Antioch until the Lord sent them out as missionaries!
For fourteen years he danced with Jesus! As he followed Jesus, people
were saved, filled with the Spirit, healed, and raised from the dead!
Then he went to Jerusalem “by revelation.” He knew his source!
To have strength for the journey we need to know our calling … and
we need to know the message of life … and we need to know our Source.
This is where we find strength for tomorrow!
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