Do you ever have the lyrics of a song you have not heard in years come to mind? Today, I was thinking of this song I remember from when I was in my early 20's. In keeping with the treasure chest I was given recently, my assignment is to make sure you are foot shod as you walk out the journey before you.
Is it not strange how these old songs come to mind from time to time? For some it may be more important than we may think, to hear a song like this. For the message is still as true today as the first time I heard it back in the early sixties. I heard it first in 1961, before it was ever listed on the gospel charts. A woman evangelist sang this song. She was a single lady that married a widower in the church where we were attending as a family in Pantego, Texas. They were married, for at most, a couple of years. After breakfast one morning he stood up and leaned against the wall and had a major heart attack and died right there at the breakfast table. It was because of this turn of events in her life, I remember this song. We were all so happy for her and the fine Christian man she married, but did not know how short lived their marriage would be. Her husband stepped through the portal of earth's barren sod and at the end of the journey was God.
In the chest that some of you have seen, was a pair of shoe molds (lasts), for a cobbler to make a pair of shoes. In the lifetime of Jesus, shoes were very much a part of the earthly life. John the Baptist said, "He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." John 1:27
When you read again Dr. Luke's story of the Prodigal, you will see that the father ordered a new pair of shoes for his son. The new shoes were for a new path, because those old shoes represented a journey away from the Fathers House.
"But his father said to the slaves, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. And a jeweled ring for his finger; and shoes!" Luke 15:22
Who has not heard how the God who spoke out of the bush told Moses to "take off his shoes, for the place he was standing was Holy Ground." Then it was that God sent the same man back, who they had previously rejected saying, "Who has made you judge or ruler over us, and by many miraculous miracles he led them out of Egypt." Acts 7:33
Reverence is very much a part of an encounter with God. It was in this desert place God told him to take off his shoes and we may wonder why? You see you are not going very far without shoes in the mountainous area he was in. I have been there where it is said, God spoke to Moses, and I can tell you you're not getting very far without shoes for your feet.
God told Moses to take his shoes off and the angel told Peter to put his shoes on. Acts 12:8.
One of the most important scriptures regarding shoes is found in Ephesians 6:15, where the whole armor of God is taught to the church regarding spiritual warfare. It is said that these shoes had cleats on them to give them firm footing in battle:
I hated wearing shoes when I was in elementary school. You could probably find this picture on the front page of the Fort Worth Press, somewhere in the archives. One day I showed up without shoes and it was a really cold day, so I wore my rabbit lined gloves. A news reporter came to school and took my picture on the front steps of De Zavala Elementary and put it on the front page of the evening paper. My parents were not so happy with me, but it became a laughing point for many years. However, it is no laughing matter when it comes to our becoming a Sermon in Shoes.
A message from a cobbler,
Your pastor and friend
Cleddie Keith
AT THE END OF THE JOURNEY IS GOD
1. There's an end to our heartaches, our troubles and cares,
There's an end to our trials and the crosses we bear;
Like the prodigal son after far lands were trod,
At the end of the journey was God.
2. Like the children of Israel we've wandered, it's true,
But our wandering will end with the light shining through;
There is one thought that cheers me as onward I trod,
At the end of the journey is God.
3. Weary pilgrim you've stumbled, you've oft been despaired,
But new hope came from knowing your Father still cared;
We will step through His portal from earth's barren sod,
At the end of the journey is God.
Chorus
At the end of the journey, the journey is God,
Though we're footsore and weary our feet poorly shod;
We will lay down our burdens our staff and our rod,
At the end of the journey is God.
Is it not strange how these old songs come to mind from time to time? For some it may be more important than we may think, to hear a song like this. For the message is still as true today as the first time I heard it back in the early sixties. I heard it first in 1961, before it was ever listed on the gospel charts. A woman evangelist sang this song. She was a single lady that married a widower in the church where we were attending as a family in Pantego, Texas. They were married, for at most, a couple of years. After breakfast one morning he stood up and leaned against the wall and had a major heart attack and died right there at the breakfast table. It was because of this turn of events in her life, I remember this song. We were all so happy for her and the fine Christian man she married, but did not know how short lived their marriage would be. Her husband stepped through the portal of earth's barren sod and at the end of the journey was God.
In the chest that some of you have seen, was a pair of shoe molds (lasts), for a cobbler to make a pair of shoes. In the lifetime of Jesus, shoes were very much a part of the earthly life. John the Baptist said, "He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." John 1:27
When you read again Dr. Luke's story of the Prodigal, you will see that the father ordered a new pair of shoes for his son. The new shoes were for a new path, because those old shoes represented a journey away from the Fathers House.
"But his father said to the slaves, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. And a jeweled ring for his finger; and shoes!" Luke 15:22
Who has not heard how the God who spoke out of the bush told Moses to "take off his shoes, for the place he was standing was Holy Ground." Then it was that God sent the same man back, who they had previously rejected saying, "Who has made you judge or ruler over us, and by many miraculous miracles he led them out of Egypt." Acts 7:33
Reverence is very much a part of an encounter with God. It was in this desert place God told him to take off his shoes and we may wonder why? You see you are not going very far without shoes in the mountainous area he was in. I have been there where it is said, God spoke to Moses, and I can tell you you're not getting very far without shoes for your feet.
God told Moses to take his shoes off and the angel told Peter to put his shoes on. Acts 12:8.
One of the most important scriptures regarding shoes is found in Ephesians 6:15, where the whole armor of God is taught to the church regarding spiritual warfare. It is said that these shoes had cleats on them to give them firm footing in battle:
"and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]."
I hated wearing shoes when I was in elementary school. You could probably find this picture on the front page of the Fort Worth Press, somewhere in the archives. One day I showed up without shoes and it was a really cold day, so I wore my rabbit lined gloves. A news reporter came to school and took my picture on the front steps of De Zavala Elementary and put it on the front page of the evening paper. My parents were not so happy with me, but it became a laughing point for many years. However, it is no laughing matter when it comes to our becoming a Sermon in Shoes.
Do you know, Oh Christian, you're a sermon in shoes?
Do you know, Oh Christian, you're a sermon in shoes?
Jesus calls upon you, to spread the gospel news,
(1) So walk it, and talk it, a sermon in shoes.
(2) Live it, and give it, a sermon in shoes.
(3) Teach it, and preach it, a sermon in shoes.
(4) Know it, and show it, a sermon in shoes.
A message from a cobbler,
Your pastor and friend
Cleddie Keith