“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV)
Alrighty, so you’ve seen the title and you may have asked yourself the same question. It isn’t a bad thing to take pause and wonder…unless you’re truly lost. To be honest, I’m still wondering which way I’m going too. Because the pathway I seem to be walking on is so full of challenges that are/aren’t so good, that it has caused me to take a pause and look back and see if those “footprints” are really there. Am I doing this “walk” all alone? Is this really the right way to go? Well, when you only see one pair of footprints as you look back, one has gotta wonder (spoiler alert: I read that poem).
However, maybe looking back ain’t such a good idea. After all, don’t I find rest in knowing that I haven’t already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me? Well, in this I can answer with a definitive YES, but as the apostle continues with his encouragement to the Philippians, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-14) I wonder, do I treat this as a mere Christian slogan? Hmm…
It can be a painful feeling to look back on life and feel that there has been much that has been left behind or unaccomplished, hence the question, “Am I going the right way?” While my wife and I were in Montreal we decided to explore The Underground City. For me, this was a breath of fresh air, but for her, not so much. We had to use the subway to get around The Underground City, and with every sign in French, my wife felt lost (which we may have been). So, she just randomly went up to someone and asked where we were and how we could get to where we were thinking we should be. “Are we going the right way?”, she asked. Good thing they understood her and, for the record, we were going in the right direction AND this person made sure we were following their directions by following us along (which was kinda weird in a friendly Canadian way). Thank you randomly chosen Montréaler!!
Sometimes I ask if Jesus would take the very path I’m on. Ya might think that it ain’t such a good idea to ask Jesus to walk your path, after all, we’re supposed to be on His, but according to the writer of Hebrews we got us a High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses and was in all points tempted as we are, so why not ask. But I got a funny feeling that if I did get my chance, I might have to run myself through 1 Corinthians 9:22 and see what sticks first. And since I’m walking a path that has a heavy metal back beat to it, I might as well do it with an Amplified translation.
“To the weak I became [as the] weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means [in any and every way] save some [by leading them to faith in Jesus Christ].” — 1 Corinthians 9:22 (AMP)
Am I truly connecting with folks at the level they’re on none the matter where their stationed at in life? How many people do I really know at work? Do they see Jesus when they meet me? How about at church? How many people do I really know there? Do I fellowship with everyone or just certain ones? How about family? Do I share the hope that I have in me with everyone or am I just picking those who I think need Jesus more? Am I shaking hands in encouragement along the way? Am I really becoming all things to all people so that I may win some to a saving grace knowledge of Jesus Christ? Hmm…guess this path has more questions than answers.
I guess it isn’t too bad a thing to question stuff as we all take this walk with Jesus. If we get too hung up with the looking back we’ll stifle ourselves from moving forward, that’s the fact Jack! But isn’t reassuring to know that a poem about footsteps was written to encourage us that if we get lost, discouraged, bewildered, injured, or experience one (or more) of life’s many undaunting challenges we can look back and see that it was Jesus the whole time…
Or maybe we should just rest in this, “And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) At least in this you’ll have a promise of God to lean on when you stop along the way. Amen?
Written by Chris Hughes: Chris is a child of El Elyon, a son, husband, a father, has an education in Biblical doctrine and is a graduate of The Colony of Mercy. He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net.
