If you have ever hiked the Berea Pinnacles, then you are aware that the view at the top is gorgeous.  While there are a variety of trails to select at the entrance, each path leads to a view that makes every step, every climb, every struggle—Worth It!

If you have witnessed to a lost brother or sister, then you are also aware that the salvation of the Lord is breathtaking.  While there are a variety of ways we can lead our conversation to the Gospel message, each way, each word, phrase, and sentence leads one to see God, & that makes every talk, every question, every prayer—Worth It!

Let us first establish how OUR FATHER DOES CARE about what His people do & say as we walk through life.  Therefore, it is a Truth—

• God does not just care about what we do but HOW WE DO IT.
• God does not just care about what we say but HOW WE SAY IT.

The day was an ordinary one; we planned to eat a late lunch at Papa Leno’s after our hike, and the Italian fare was already planted deep within my mind.  As I recall our hike that day and our conversation, I find that it is not the absence of the planned Italian lunch that I recall but the way he stopped me on the descent, on the hike down—with his statement, his tears, and with his question.

• “I want to believe like you believe.”
• Tears streamed down his sixteen-year-old face.
• “Will you still love me if I don’t believe like you believe?”

He was kind that day in choosing the path to the right, the one he knew I could accomplish with my weak back.  As we set off on the “easy” trail, our conversation was lighthearted, teasing one another and talking about non-important topics.  We reached the pinnacle soon enough, and the view did not disappoint.  With a panoramic view, the valley below was tree-lined, pretty, and calming.

People watch us; we hear those words often spoken, but it is a truth.  They do.  People see the way we react to life-situations, they hear the words we speak; and they sense the peace of God deep within us.  It was apparent that day as we hiked down the trail, headed back toward my vehicle.  Truthfully, I thought if a God-conversation came out my mouth that day, then surely, it would be as we stood at the pinnacle and took in the breathtaking view, but the Holy Spirit had other plans.

We were hiking down.

I was in the lead.

The path was a bit muddy, somewhat slippery, and shaded from the sun.

His touch on my shoulder was light, but his statement was sharp, clear.

• “I want to believe like you believe.”

Immediately, we stopped hiking as his words caught me off-guard.  Turning to look back over my shoulders, I sensed his inner-struggle.

• Tears streamed down his sixteen-year-old face.

‘What do I say Lord in response to his statement?’ I questioned inside my heart.

‘What can I say, what can I do that will help this teenager see You, Lord?’

At that juncture, during that solitary moment, I did not have a Bible to open and show him a passage, but I did have Scripture verses filling my heart as I began to share Jesus.  I spoke to him about my conversion experience when I was fifteen.  Tears streamed down my face as I spoke of the love I felt for his sister who had moved into my house and heart.

After several minutes of talking, I turned to hike, and we reached the parking lot and my green Subaru soon enough.  As I said, our plans included an Italian lunch, so we were prepared with clean tennis shoes. So, I lifted the back hatch so we could change, and it was there, standing on one leg as I removed one muddy hiking shoe to replace with a clean shoe that his question stopped me.

• “Will you still love me if I don’t believe like you believe?”

Stopping to turn so my eyes met his, I saw his tears again upon his cheeks.  Will I love him if he never believes?  YES!  FOR SURE!  HOW CAN I NOT!

During the four years since that day, we (he & I) have spoken about so many topics, but that day will forever be imprinted in my mind when I think of this young man.  My best response that day:  “Keep searching.  Keep looking for this ‘higher power’ you speak of because God will reveal Himself to you.”

OUR FATHER DOES CARE about what His people do &

OUR FATHER DOES CARE about what His people say as we walk through life.

It is a Truth—

• God does not only care about what we do but HOW WE DO IT.
• God does not only care about what we say but HOW WE SAY IT.

Never did I imagine how our time together would lead to such a deep conversation!

• Never did I consider how my walk with the Lord was scrutinized by this young man.
• Never did I think it possible for this young teenager to lead my faith to grow.
• Never did I ponder how God had entrusted anothers’ faith with my own walk with God.

BUT GOD DID—

• Lead us to deep conversations.
• Lead this young teen to watch the way I walked through my life.
• Lead me to dig more deeply into God’s Word.
• Lead me to thank God for this young one He has placed in my life & (at times) in my home.

May we hike in our faith-walk without stumbling!

• May we faithfully walk with our Lord every day.
• May we recall how the Holy Spirit is constantly at work in people’s lives.
• May we never forget how a person’s eternal resting place is WHAT IS AT STAKE!

—FOR THEY ARE LOST—just as we once were!

May we each determine in our hearts to—

Be A Faithful Witness—of the Goodness of Our Lord—As We Hike Through Life!