Therefore, take up the
full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and
having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR
LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and
having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition
to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:13-16)
(Adapted from a booklet written by
Evangelist, E.J. Daniels)
A traveling salesman arrives in an average northern city for
a business meeting on a cold December day. He observes people everywhere (from
the rich to the poor) walking around the city barefooted -----bruised feet,
limping people everywhere he looks.
He checks in to a plush, downtown hotel – the doorman in his
sharp, military uniform….barefooted. He’s assisted by bellboys….barefooted and
escorted to the check-in area/front desk only to find the people at the front
desk clerks ….barefooted. Business associates (from the town) are also arriving
for the business luncheon….barefooted.
The Salesman retires to his room to get dressed and quickly
returns to find himself seated by an older, distinguished gentleman….barefooted.
The obvious occurs. Why are there no “shoes” being worn? The older man responds with how he used to
wear “shoes” but that somehow the importance of wearing “shoes” just faded
through the years. He felt like they
should be worn and knew they would certainly help but no one else wore
them………..
Puzzled by the strange discussion and no “shoes” anywhere,
the salesman took a walk that afternoon. He saw beautiful buildings all around
and noticed a janitor sweeping on the steps of one of the beautiful
buildings…barefooted.
He struck up a conversation with the Janitor and asked, “What
is this building?”
To the salesman’s amazement the man said (you guessed it),
“It’s a shoe factory.”
“Are no
shoes made here?” the salesman asked.
The man
answered quickly… “NO!”
“People still come here occasionally
and talk about making shoes; sing of the glory of the shoes; and meditate and
plan about “new ways” to make them. In
fact all the businesses close on the first day of every week and come to hear
about making shoes; the care of shoes; telling others about “shoes”….but there
aren’t any shoes made.
Again, the
salesman became curious…..what strange people!
He continued
walking around the town until he found a small, little shop where an old
cobbler was making “shoes” ever so carefully and tenderly. The salesman asked the old cobbler, “Who wears
the “shoes” you make? The old cobbler
said, “People think about “shoes” on several occasions: at weddings, at
Christenings/baptisms (the shoes are removed quickly), funerals (even those
who’ve hated shoes wear them in death)…..
The salesman
took the old cobbler to lunch and continued visiting about “shoes”. He purchased shoes for the old cobbler. His
were worn, his feet were bruised and old. He hadn’t worn them in a long time….
The old
cobbler was grateful but hesitated to wear them because the other people,
richer, more worthy; were not wearing them and if he wore them he’d be
considered a “shoe fanatic”!
This story speaks to several issues:
1) People make
excuses to not wear their Christian shoes (Or live for the Lord)
2) It’s
uncomfortable to live for Jesus in many situations
3) We are
embarrassed to live for Christ (Romans 1:16)
4) Styles may
change / Jesus is always the same (Hebrews 13:8)
More
analogies can be made….
There is a big difference between “shoes” and
Christianity…..Shoes can be put on and taken off but Christ can’t. You just
can’t “try on” Christianity to see if it “fits”.
I guarantee you can’t be a Christian without having Jesus in
your heart/life. Some have tried to live the Christian life apart from
Jesus…impossible; doomed to failure.
Jesus gave Himself to the “Point of no turning back”. He asks
for the same commitment from us.
Scripture to
Claim:
Watch
the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. (Proverbs 4:26)
Submitted By Gary Wood
