02 June 2008 Devotion for Today “Footprints” Job 23:10-11

02 June 2008 Devotion for Today “Footprints” Job 23:10-11

My daughter came home from school earlier this year with a homework assignment-actually it was a project- that she had to do. She said “I have to determine my carbon footprint.” I said, “well I hope you wiped your feet before you came in the house!” “No, silly! Not that kind of footprint,” she said, “its all about how much stuff you use, how much you consume, and how much you throw away!- they call it our carbon footprint.” She then gave me a “wikipedia” definition of the carbon footprint: “A carbon footprint measures of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide” I must admit that I had never heard of a carbon footprint before, and of course the idea is to try to make the least amount of a carbon footprint as possible. I remember being taught about pollution. I recall thirty years ago those long lines at the gas pump when a gallon of regular gas cost 75 cents. I remember catalytic converters being installed on cars for the first time. We had “pop tops” on soda cans and you would find them in the street, in parking lots, in the gutters- everywhere. We were just getting into recycling back then (I would ride my bike and scour the neighborhood for aluminum cans, and turn them in for a little spending money). But the carbon footprint? That’s a totally different idea from how I was raised. We were taught to make a big impact on the world wherever our big feet landed. My generation drove the popular SUVs and are paying the price for them now.

My oldest son graduates from high school next week. I must admit that the future does not look too bright for his generation- at least in terms of perpetuating the lifestyle that we have grown accustomed to- walking in our footprints where we have always walked. He is going to have to face challenges that were much tougher to face than the ones I had. But then again- every generation has its own set of challenges. They have their own set of footprints to leave. Some may fail in the attempt, but they usually succeed in accomplishing some breakthrough that makes life better off for all of us.

Anyone who has walked through deep snow recognizes that it’s easier to walk along snow that’s been packed down than through a snow drift. I can recall the tales of older guys who were in Vietnam tell me about how their point men would make their patrols safe from enemy landmines and booby-traps as they walked precisely in their footsteps. They would usually come back safely to camp whenever they walked where their point men walked. In spite of the size of the footprints that we are want to leave, it is better to walk not just where others have walked, but to walk where our Savior has walked.
Job tells us in the Scripture passage But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.” (Job 23:10-11) Job knew, in spite of all of his suffering, that his footprints were not as important as the footprints of the Lord ahead of him. Unlike our own, Christ’s footprints aren’t always easy to see, are they? We can’t see them from a distance. We have to be right there with Jesus or they fade away. And when you’re walking that closely with someone, you’re usually communicating with them aren’t you? And we know that we are always safe when we are walking down the hard roads when we are walking in the footsteps of Christ.

As I leave you today, I share with you this poem that one is aft to find in nearly every gift shop in America:

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed that he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, the other to the Lord.When the last of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the Footprints in the sand.He noticed that many times along the path there was only one set of footprints. He recalled that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.He questioned, “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. Then why during the most troublesome times in my life When I needed you most, would you leave me?”The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you.During your times of trials and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.” (Anonymous).

Are you following your carbon footprint, or your Jesus footprint?

Have a blessed day!