Looking out the back of my brother’s apartment in Capetown, South Africa, one can see the majestic mountains that surround the city. One peak is within walking distance of Brian’s place, so early New Year’s Day, my brother, another younger missionary, my children, and I set off to climb a mountain.
For some reason, the mountain always looks easier to climb when you’re sitting in a chair, looking out a window, than when you’re on the actual journey. After about a half-mile walk, we reached a set of steps that led us to the beginning of the trail at the foot of the mountain. By the time I climbed those stairs, I was exhausted! How was I ever going to climb the mountain before us?
I’ll share the uncomplicated answer that helped me complete the hike. I realize this answer is simplistic, but it helped me keep going. Here it is: Take one step at a time.
My desire this year is to follow Jesus wherever He leads. When you read of His followers in Scripture, you see the Good Shepherd lead by still waters and you see Him lead through the valley of the shadow of death. Surely, when we think the mountain before us is impossible, the Lord would say, “Keep your eyes on Me and take one step at a time.”
With New Year’s Day fresh on my mind, I thought I would write about the importance of that first step. If it is not taken, there is no journey. But as I begin to think back on my life to pinpoint that first step in following Jesus, I realize my analogy is flawed. You see, I did not take the first step. Jesus did. The step He took enables there even to be a journey. Without Him, the smallest hill is impossible to climb, but because of Him, all things are possible.
Every step Jesus took on this earth reveals the secret to life. He simply listened to His Father and obeyed what He heard. And because He took that walk to Calvary, the impassable mountains of sin we all have accumulated came crashing down so a Father could receive His own. What great joy to realize the first step any of us could take toward the Father has already been accomplished in the Cross! This is why no man should ever boast of his own steps. Our journey should simply be a response to what has already been done.
How can I say “No” to the One who laid down His life for me? Jesus does not promise the journey will be easy, but He does promise to be with us. How thankful I am for the peaceful walks with the Master. But one day He may call me out of the boat into a storm that seems impossible. If I can just remember what the Lord has already accomplished and if I can have the faith to keep my eyes on Him, then, perhaps, I can even walk on water – one step at a time.
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8