The Fall
A few weeks ago I watched two major things happen. A marriage ceremony and a baby's first steps. Both of these life changing events reminded me of my walk with Christ.
The wedding reminded me of my baptism day. All dressed in white, the vows, the many guests that come from near and far to witness our union. Then the honeymoon period. On cloud 9 with Christ, happy and blissful. Then I became grounded and start to find my feet, like a baby learning to walk, I stepped out for Christ a little bit unsteady, holding onto the things familiar to me: my church, my family and friends.
Then I begin to step out unaided, and as I wobble forward into my work place and university, unfamiliar places, I try to keep upright, but sometimes I fall.
It was interesting to watch the child as she fell,and immediately searching for her mother before getting back up to seek comfort and reassurance.
Now, I'm aware that not everyone reading this has walked with Christ or is walking with Christ, but we all fall. We all slip up and make mistakes and get discouraged.
But what is the most important part of learning to walk? Falling or getting back up?
Proverbs 24:16 says:
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
It is not the amount of times we fall, but the amount of times we get back up. Watching the child fall, seek its mother, get back up and try again repeated all afternoon until the child stopped falling so frequently and became more steady.
As we mature in Christ we too will stop falling as frequently and be able to take bigger steps for Christ. As we renew our relationship with Christ daily, we must remember it's the getting up that will develop our relationship with him, with others, and ourselves.
Elle Howell