I have a hidden problem, a condition which, if revealed, would amaze and terrorize everyone in sight. I am talking about my feet. While the rest of my body is in a reasonably good shape (for my age), my feet are ugly, cold and wide. Most people can buy any shoe they want or can afford. Not me. While everyone else wears the latest Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Vans and Converse, I must traverse this earth in my old pair of New Balance shoes.
In the spiritual realm the same story is repeated. The people of this world walk on a broad way with narrow feet, but the Christians walk in a narrow way with wide feet. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, …strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13,14)
The unbelievers have fashionable feet and wide roads (or fast lanes) in which to walk, but they are always stumbling and falling, because their feet, minds and hearts are so narrow. Behind every beautiful woman walking in high heels, there is a world of pain, discomfort and inefficiency. High heels are pretty, but useless for running the Christian race.
Psalm 18: 36 reads, “You enlarged my path under me, So my feet did not slip.” This same idea is repeated in Psalm 31:8. David said, “You have set my feet in a wide place.” As I read these verses, an idea flies into my mind: Christians walk and run on a very narrow and difficult road, but God enlarges or widens our feet so to speak, in order that we might not stumble and fall. How does God do that?
In 1 Peter 2:21, we are commanded to follow Christ’s “steps.” Even though the context refers to suffering, we must follow Him in every respect as He walks ahead of us. His steps or footprints are clearly marked for us to follow, but how can our tiny and feeble feet ever fill those enormous prints on the road?
The answer is found in Ephesians 6:15. “…and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” God has provided all Christians with special shoes for us to grow “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). These “Gospel Shoes” allow us to walk comfortably and steadily on the narrow way, and the most amazing feat (pun intended) is that our feet are now so enlarged or wide, that we can actually walk in the steps of our Saviour.
In this regard, then, having wide feet is not a reproach. In fact, my spiritual wide feet in Christ are really a priceless work of art. “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15). –Alex Gonzalez
