“Nancy’s wearing a new pair of tennis shoes,” Julie said to her daughter. 
“Yes,” I replied, looking down at my feet where my NEWEST pair of shoes resided upon my feet.  “I actually have two pairs of these shoes.  Sydney calls me old because she said that’s what old people do—buy the two of something—exact replicas.   Yet, if you find something you really like and don’t purchase a second one, then THAT particular one will be changed and no longer exist just as it is & just as you like it by the time you need a new pair.”
Then I paused, realizing what biblical truth God was teaching me through my black and white tennis shoes.  A Silly thought?  Nope!

God’s Word speaks to us as His Holy Spirit permeates our being.  Our task—-Listen & Learn & Obey.

Think back to when God changed your heart.
Think back to the exact moment you realized that you were lost to God and if you died, you would go to hell.
Go back to the moment when you felt SO ALL ALONE, totally separated from God.
I know.  We are so thankful for our salvation, and we never want to think about that scariest time of our lives, but to reach the lost, sometimes it’s important to remember the pain of conviction we felt (and the fear of going to bed—fear to shut our eyes—fear that if we died, we would not go to heaven).

FEAR.

As a believer for 30+ years (15 to 55—-you do the math), I have discovered of late that lostness in 2021 looks a bit different from the lostness of 1981.
Lost is still Lost.
TRUE!
God is still God!
True!
The deceiver (the devil) still lies!
True!
None of that changed.  What changed is the world.  In 2021, the world looks so different from the world of 1981.  As an example, let’s consider the world of 1941 (when my grandma was 15 and getting married) and how that world looked different from the world of 1981 (when grandma was 55 years old & the year I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior)? To be honest, the irony found in the numbers astounds me this morning because I now sit at the age of 55 and wonder if I have allowed God to CHANGE ME as HE DESIRES?!!!

Let us pause a moment to see some comparisons & contrasts found between 1941 & 1981.

Sure, the war was on the horizon in 1941, more than in 1981. 
Sure, big 80s hair was in style, more than in 1981.
Sure, people were marrying later in life, more so than in 1981.
Sure, a high school education was more highly expected in 1981 than in 1941.
BUT………..
Also true, the 80s were a time of calm (because the world was not at war).
Also true, the 80s were a time of face-to-face relationships (because no Internet existed).
Also true, the 80s were a time when a high school diploma meant a kid could get a job (because many students were not furthering their education).
And also true, the 80s were known as the ‘big hair’ era (but also true—I did not really fit in with that look because of my shorter hairstyle, but I did have some funky curls and wore some extra-large eyeglasses).

What’s the point of all this comparison between the years 1941 & 1981—a forty-year span?  If we remain unmoving, unchanged by the LORD, then are we really DOING & SERVING & GOING & WITNESSING & LEADING OTHERS TO THE LORD?

In the Old Testament of the Bible, we remember how the Israelites wandered for 40 years before they crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land.
The priests obediently stepped into the Jordan—Just as God instructed. 
God rolled back the waters—Just as God had rolled back the waters of the Red Sea when He instructed Moses to lead them out of Egypt.
They crossed the Jordan, walking upon the dry, dusty riverbed—Just as God directed the priests to stand upon the dry riverbed while the huge number of Israelites passed through the once impassable river to faithfully step onto the other side of the Jordan River.
The priests also obediently picked up their stones, one stone each—Just as God led them to do, in order to build a memorial marker to commemorate the place where God led them across and to remind them of what God had led them through to get to the other side.

God Did All That!!!
They only needed to listen, to learn, to obey, & to step forward in faith.

Q1—What is God teaching us today?
Q2—Where is God leading  us to go?
Q3—How is God helping us to see our futures today?
Q4—When does God expect us to cross, to go forward, to step out in faith?
Q5—Who does God expect us to follow?
Q6—Why does God expect us to obediently—Follow Him?  To Go?  To Obey?

These questions are so easily answered IF we are studying God’s Word & IF we are praying & IF we are seeking God’s will & IF our eyes are not looking down at our tennis shoes but up, fixed upon our LORD.

God changed us at the moment of salvation for a reason!  God does not want us to replace His new with our old, & God does not want us to return back to our old ways or to our old way of thinking, BUT GOD WANTS US TO BE A NEW CREATURE IN HIM!
How are we doing with that CHANGE?
Are we fully trusting God?
Are we looking down at our feet, seeing our tennis shoes, and liking how they feel on our feet?
Is God leading us—To a new place of service?  To a new challenge?  To new opportunities of trusting His power & His omniscience?  To new mission fields?
Are we walking with God?—OR—Are we standing still? Are we lacing up our tennis shoes and going wherever God leads?—OR—Are we standing in place? Are we doing whatever God leads us to do, speaking God’s Word to those who need to hear?—OR—Are we standing and looking down at our new shoes HE Has Provided?

In the melody “All In” sung by Blanca, her song includes some of these lyrics—

"I wasn't put on this earth to be afraid to move/
To never do all the things I know You're calling me to/
. . .
But I wanna be brave/
I wanna be used/
. . .
So, . . . 
If You've got something to say, I want to speak it/
If You've put a song in my heart, then I'll sing it/
. . .
Whatever, Whatever You need, I'll be.  Choose me/

Whatever, Whatever, Whatever You need/
I'll be.  Choose Me/
. . .
Whatever it is, I do it/
Wherever it is, I go/
Cause I'm in/
. . .

I wasn't put on this earth to be afraid to move!"

Do not believe me; believe God’s Word. 

Let us be brave. Let us remember WHO leads us & WHO holds our hand.
Let us not be afraid to move when God leads us to move.
Let us fight the battle God has led us to fight.
Let us say as God’s Holy Spirit speaks to us—–“Choose Me, God.  Please, Choose me.”