“It does not matter if you have to crawl, if you need to drag yourself along the ground, you follow me.”
Can you envision your Master, your Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ saying those words to you? What do you see on His face, a smile or a scowl?
There is a poem I vaguely remember called “Footsteps in the Sand,” where one set of those footprints is meant to reveal that in certain times, the Lord carries us. In my mind, that infers that at other times He does not need to, that He allows us to run, walk or even crawl if that is necessary.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
I believe there are very few in these days who profess the Lord that would crawl, that would drag themselves along the rocky ground to continue to follow Him, they want to be carried, they want Him to do all the work, in fact, they expect Him to. They have achieved a mentality of enablement, they expect the hardships to be diverted from them, to be pulled out of every dire circumstance, to have not only what they need, but much of what they want, and every inconvenience of life that arrives, they do not bless His name for them, but detest Him for allowing them.
They, like small children, reach up to Him and say, “Carry me.”
This is not faith, this is designing a god of their own making, one that will serve them, and one they will serve, as long as life follows the path they have designed.
Are you aware that Korah and all who followed him, those who also ate of the manna that fell from heaven, were swallowed up by the earth, going to hell whole? Did you know that he who carried the purse, the one who carried the money of the Lord’s traveling companions, who is now in his place in hell, was sent out with the others to cast out devils and heal the sick?
“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt. 5:45)
Daniel’s three friends had many months to pray while the obelisk was being prepared, and as far as we are told, they received no words to inform them that the fire would have no effect upon them. Daniel was not told that the lions would not devour him, David did not know if the next battle would be his last. Lazarus sat at the rich man’s gate, content and rejoicing in the Almighty.
“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Our Lord’s flesh was too beaten and bruised to carry the beam of His cross to the place of the skull, so He crawled, willingly and with intent to obey.
Does our Lord carry us at times, of course, does He expect us to follow Him no matter what all the time? Yes, and if you are following Him, you are not being carried, are you?
What if it hurts, what if you can barely see through the tears, what if those who hate Him whom you love above all others are berating you, mocking you, persecuting you?
“Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” (John 21:22)
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ does not stop because of pain, real or perceived, it is not hindered when we are in that dry and thirsty land, it does not falter in the valley of the shadow of death.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2nd Tim. 4:7)
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Gal. 6:9)
You may finish in last place, you may need to walk, you may even have to crawl those last few feet, but if your faith rests firmly on the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul, and in His sacrifice alone, you will finish that race.
If it is absolutely necessary for you to be carried, He will do that, but not until every last ounce of your own personal efforts to serve Him is gone.
And for the chosen my friends, that will be the moment you take your last breath here.
