The Footprints

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 5
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What big footprints! Diego knew that no one from his town wore shoes that big. He was on his way home from work when he noticed the footprints in the dusty road going toward his village. He was a believer in the Lord Jesus, and his young family lived in a small village in Mexico.
Diego wondered who was visiting in his village. Had a soldier come in? Why would he be coming to their village? Diego walked a little faster, all the while noticing the large footprints. Soon he realized that those footprints were going right up the hill toward his own house! Diego hurried even faster. His wife and small children were at home! Who had gone toward his house?
“Brother Alberto!” he cried. “I’m so glad to see you. I couldn’t imagine what tall man could have come to my house! I didn’t even know you were in Mexico! I’m so glad it’s you!
Poor Diego almost collapsed with relief. It wasn’t a soldier or a stranger who had left those footprints; it was his own Christian friend. And other believers from the village had come too. His family was safe and, instead of the trouble Diego feared, they would have a happy Bible study.
Diego’s friend had left footprints- footprints that others could see and tell something about the type of person who had walked there. Are you aware that you are also leaving footprints in this world? The Bible says that “even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right” (Proverbs 20:1111Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. (Proverbs 20:11)). People look at what you do and what you say to know what kind of a person you are. What you do and what you say are your “footprints.”
What kind of “footprints” are you leaving as you walk through this world? Are they footprints of love, joy and peace? Or have you left footprints of sin? If you are honest, you must admit that God’s Word, the Bible, is true when it says, “There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22-2322Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:22‑23)). Bad words, lies and unkind actions are footprints of sin. God hates sin and will never allow even one sin into His home in heaven. But the good news is that God loves you. He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on the cross to save you from your sins, if you will believe in Him. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).
Would you like to leave footprints of love, joy and peace? Turn to the Lord Jesus and obey what He says, and He will give you these “footprints” - “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-2322But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22‑23)).
Diego knew that someone tall had left those big footprints, and people know something of what you are like by your footprints. What kind of footprints have you left at home, at school or at work today?
ML-07/02/1995