Who's Footsteps Do You Walk In? The Tide Is Changing! Keep The Faith!

[Bible Speaks]

DID you ever walk along a sandy beach or across a snowy field and find yourself fascinated by the pattern of footsteps left by someone who walked there before you?

Did you perhaps even pick out a set of footsteps and try to follow them, matching your own steps with them as exactly as possible?

If so, you discovered that it was not easy. In fact, following closely in the footsteps of another—either literally or figuratively—is a real challenge. And yet, by calling ourselves Christians, we have indicated our desire to do just that, to follow closely in the footsteps of Christ.

Are you willing to put forth the effort that is necessary to meet this challenge successfully?

More than that, are you determined to do so, come what may? If so, fully understanding the difficulties of following in literal footsteps will make you more successful in following in Christ’s figurative footsteps.

Christ’s way of walking, figuratively speaking, was unique, for among his contemporaries he alone was a perfect man, “one who did not know sin.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Since humans by nature are imperfect sinners, walking in Jesus’ footsteps is not their normal way of walking. So walking in Christ’s footsteps presents a challenge greater than if we were asked merely to follow in the footsteps of an imperfect person.

(Psalm 44:18) 18 Our heart has not turned faithlessly back, Nor do our footsteps deviate from your path. . ."

On a crowded beach, there may be several sets of footprints in the moist sand, and some trails of footprints may cross the one we are following. Many sets of footprints may, at least superficially, look alike.

How vital it is to be certain that we are following the correct ones! Otherwise we may be betrayed into going in the wrong direction.

In a spiritual sense, this could have serious consequences. The danger in following footsteps that may look right but that in reality are not is shown in the proverb that warns: “There exists a way that is upright before a man, but the ways of death are the end of it afterward.”—Proverbs 16:25.

You still have an opportunity to get back into step with your Leader, Jesus Christ. No reason for despair! No reason to give up! Be determined, with divine help, to meet successfully the challenge of ‘following closely in Jesus’ footsteps.’—1 Peter 2:21
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