“And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21)
You’ve probably heard of or read the poem called “Footprints” which is about someone who looks back and sees their own life expressed as footprints in the sand. The one who is remembering their time on earth is surprised to note another set of prints alongside their own which turns out to be the footprints of Jesus – He is with us even when we don't see Him. Even more surprising to the one looking back is to note that sometimes there was just ONE set of prints, but then they also heard Jesus’ comforting words to us all: “It was then that I carried you.”
That is indeed very comforting and the poem is a sentiment found in pictures on walls, as words on key chains and in many other places because it’s not only beautiful, but also true – Jesus Christ really IS walking with us, protecting us and carrying us when He is needed, every step of the way.
But today, let’s look at “footprints” from another perspective. Let’s discuss aspects of humanity that are reflected by the various justice systems in nations around the world. We are inveterate “judges” who examine evidence about the people around us and declare them guilty or innocent as the result of our examination. Our habit is unfortunately to make snap judgments about people when we first meet them, and then spend the rest of our lives looking for evidence to support our findings and decision. Jesus commented about our judgmental ways as reflected in Matthew 7:1, saying, “Judge not that you be not judged.” And then He warned us in Verse 2, “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” He continued with the amusing but true admonition for us all: “First remove the PLANK from your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Verses 3-5).
We are very much like “detectives” who are called from a police station to visit a crime scene and sift the evidence to decide what happened. The participants are gone from the scene, the evidence left behind is not easy to understand and we typically don’t use all of the investigative tools at our disposal. Most important, our definition of a “crime” is often incorrect. We scrutinize the innocent, often assuming from the beginning that they are guilty as charged.
This is especially true in the case of God Himself. He acts in our lives and in the lives of those around us for purposes higher than we could ever understand. We may believe He exists, just as a detective at a crime scene believes that what they are viewing was done by someone, but consciously or otherwise, we may not believe in the character of God. To accept that He is good, that He means the best for us, that He cares and will deliver us is called – faith.
God has left His footprints everywhere so that we might find Him and apprehend Him, or more accurately, so that HE might apprehend US and our very lives might be taken into His custody, His loving care. We find Him in the Bible, which is really a Book that contains eye-witness testimony about His entrances into human history. It is intended to encourage us to seek Him, and it is a wonderful resource that will help us find Him as well.
One category of evidence we find in Scripture is called “miracles;” which essentially are events that are humanly impossible, or at the least, very unlikely. He who invented the idea of a miracle in the first place, He who created everything can and will set aside the physical laws of this universe anytime He chooses for His good purposes. We are under His Law, but He is not. What is intended is that we will look through the miracles in Scripture and see the hand of God. They are like footprints that are able to lead us to faith in the Lord.
Have you ever seen a miracle? Probably you have seen them more times than you know. That sick person who recovered, the car that should have hit your car but didn’t, the bullets that were fired in the neighborhood but missed; the airplanes that fly overhead, but don’t fall down and hit your house. We could go on, but the reality is that the only reason we are alive at the end of every day is because God has miraculously sustained us yet another time. We live because He lets us.
The next question as detectives in our investigation of the character of God is: What about the times when we prayed and He did not answer our prayer? We prayed about our loved one but instead of things getting better, our loved one was gone. Where was God then? How does the apparent lack of a miracle in our lives relate to the miracles of Scripture?
When He was here with us on earth, Jesus Christ healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, cleansed lepers, restored withered limbs, gave sight to the blind, fed thousands from a tiny bit of food, caused the deaf to hear, and more. As John the Apostle said, “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). Jesus performed MIRACLES.
Remember that the purpose of your existence is not so that you will have a wonderful, tidy life life on earth, but so that you and yours will have a wonderful eternity. In accomplishing this, the miracles of Scripture and in our lives are not merely intended to give you what you want, but to glorify God. The end result is that you will see His wonder at the same time you see your own need and turn to Him for help. Again, it’s called “faith.” If you give yourself to Him, trusting that He will see you through, you are given a place in eternity. But it’s more than just getting there; it’s following the footsteps to His love and finding an astonishing joy that will last – forever.
One thing we can notice in the Bible is verses that are repeated. If you see it once, listen to it, if twice, listen even more intently, and if it’s three times, God especially wants YOU to hear it. Today’s Scripture is Acts 2:21, which reads, “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” These were words from Peter’s first real sermon. In the power of God he was explaining to a large crowd of people the nature of the loud sound they had heard, which was like “a rushing mighty wind” (Acts 2:2), and also the phenomenon of Jews from Galilee who were excitedly speaking in languages they did not know. In speaking, Peter quoted the Book of Joel Chapter 2, which a prophecy of something that was to come – the Church.
“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” wrote Joel, in a context that included: “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams. Your young men shall see visions; and also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days" (Joel 2:28-32). He was speaking of a time, our time, when the prophets of God would not be just one or a few in a generation, but instead the wonderful footprints of God can be seen within and around the lives of ALL who place their trust in the Lord Jesus.
That same Scripture is found a third time within a three chapter discussion by the Apostle Paul on the nature of the nation Israel, and he concluded “…whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” in Romans 10:13. A great problem we have as God’s people is that we don’t truly comprehend the wonderful simplicity of becoming right with God. I don’t have to do things just like you did, nor must you be precisely like I am, for “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” We might not “repent” just the same, but don’t worry for God will take care of it. Our baptism might differ, or communion, or whatever, but “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” God calls us to trust Him, to love Him and be willing to love other people. He will work out the rest. We can stop being detectives all the time - His footprints are revealed by the love He has placed in His people.
Dear Lord, hear my prayer. I call upon You. I surrender, Lord Jesus. Make me clean, inside and out. Please fill my heart and my life with Your Spirit, with your love. Do with me as You will, but enable me to live a life that glorifies God. Let Your footprints be seen in me. In Jesus Name. Amen.
