Hi Friends,
Steps — first steps; next steps; loose steps; final steps — so many steps in our lives!
On a Sunday in September, 1952, Andrew van den Bijl, sat on the banks of a Dutch canal, literally considering his steps, or his ability to step. Several years earlier, during World War II, an injury had left him with a shattered ankle and a limp. In his heart, he had sensed the voice of God, calling him to a life of mission but, like Moses, he kept raising objections. “Yes, I’m willing to go but …” was usually the way the conversation proceeded as Andrew raised one disquieting objection after another. “How could I be a missionary if I can’t even walk a city block without pain?” he wondered.
So, there, beside that canal, he wrestled with God. He knew what God was asking him to do but it seemed simply impossible and beyond his ability. Back and forth they went, the Spirit of God inexorably rebutting excuses. Finally, the struggle came to a climax and Andrew felt that he must take a physical step of faith despite his pain — a step that would signal his commitment to complete obedience. He stood up and, as he applied his body weight to his wounded foot, he felt a violent twist. His immediate thought was that he had hurt his ankle even more. Yet, as he applied pressure to the foot again, he discovered there was no pain or any kind of restricted movement. Again, he took a step. Again, the same result. His limp had disappeared. His gait was normal and pain free. A miracle had occurred as he took those first, faltering, faith-demonstrating steps.
Andrew eventually became knows as “God’s Smuggler” and he founded a ministry called “Open Doors,” whose ministry has delivered millions of bibles and aid to underground Christians in more than seventy countries. It all began with one faltering step of obedience.
God often gives us a clearer sense of his calling than he does of the actual journey. “Abram, go to the land I will show you.” “Noah, build me an ark.” “I will stop the waters of the Jordan when the priests set foot into the water.” “Peter, come out of the boat to me.” None of these knew what was in store for them. Their choice was a simple one. Would they take the next step that God was inviting them to take? Did they have enough faith for that one simple step?
We can get bogged down in the land of excuses and rationalizations. If we do, we’ll never know the triumph of faith. To triumph in faith, you must take the next step — figuratively or literally. It’s okay to want to know the way — it’s human, even — but Jesus had a specific answer when Phillip asked to be shown the way. “I am the way,” he said. He remains the way. He will navigate and guide. It’s up to us to take that next step, whatever it is; to follow him.
If you don’t know what your next step is, ask Jesus, and wait. If you do know, then take the step, however strange or uncertain it might seem. God will be there, just like he’s always been with all the saints through the ages. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord!
Blessings!
Doug