Butt Prints In The Sand

One night I had a wondrous dream,

One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.
But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, "What have we here?"
Those prints are large and round and neat,
"But Lord they are too big for feet."

"My child," He said in somber tones,

"For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait."

"You disobeyed, you would not grow,

The walk of faith, you would not know.
So I got tired, I got fed up,
and there I dropped you on your butt."

"Because in life, there comes a time,

when one must fight, and one must climb.
When one must rise and take a stand,
or leave their butt prints in the sand."

author unknown

Faith has three steps or aspects: knowledge, agreement, and trust. Faith must
accompany works. The Bible tells us we must have faith in order to be saved. But
without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6) Paul wrote that "We conclude that a man is justified by faith apart
from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28). No deed done within the law could ever
give the doer salvation yet faith brings forth fruit. James said that “You see
then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). Faith
must have manifest works or it is dead being alone. He said that even the devils
believe in one God, that knowledge alone without the ability to work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling, does no good. Jesus plainly said that faith and
works go hand in hand. Here he says faith in itself is a work. John 6:28-29 Then
said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus
answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom
he hath sent. Jesus again said that faith must accompany a action here. Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall
be damned. Have you ever noticed that when Jesus healed someone they often had to
wash, walk, or do some deed on the part of the recipient? The Parable of the Sower
states that keeping the word brings forth spiritual fruit or deeds. Luke 8:15 But
that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard
the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. here were all are shown
that faith, grace, and works come together for our salvation in Jesus' name.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we
are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them. We all must take the entire word of
God to be saved. Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall
not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of
God. Only Satan will try to deceive you into obeying only a portion of it instead
of the whole word of God. Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you
all the counsel of God. We are warned neither to teach doctrines that either add
or take away from the word and will of God. Revelations 22:18-19 For I testify
unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man
shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written
in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the
holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Finally, this
advice concerning the scriptures written in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Hear, O Israel: The
LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.And these words, which I
command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them
diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine
house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou
risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be
as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy
house, and on thy gates. Today, all true believers have the law of their God
written upon their hearts and minds by the spirit of God given to them after
baptism in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.