The Sunday Sermonette – Shoes That Never Wear Out.

     My crusty, old Uncle Charlie from D’Lo, Mississippi, never threw anything away. Having lived through the tough, rough times of the Great Depression, he learned to value things long after their newness had worn off. I recall visiting him in the 1960s, then again in the 1970s, and once more in the early 1980s. During each visit, I noticed he wore the same pair of worn-out, leather high-tops.

     When he passed away, I told Uncle Charlie’s family that if no one wanted them, I wanted his high-tops. Over the past fifty years, I’ve worn them countless times on stage. Mean old Mr. Scrooge, creepy Fagin, comical Pappy Yokum, and the miserly Miser have all pranced and danced across numerous Coastal stages sporting Uncle Charlie’s worn-out shoes. I’m quite sure that when I pass off this mortal coil, his old shoes will, at long last, be relegated to the dustbin of memory. 

     In our modern world, we are constantly reminded that nothing lasts forever. Houses crumble. Clothes fade after too many dizzy spins in a washing machine that itself is destined for the junkyard. Left alone, all our possessions eventually unravel or rot away. Weeds creep into our gardens, our bodies age, and mountains slowly disappear. This relentless decline can be unsettling. We may try to hold it at bay, but those who choose to embrace the inevitable are happier, learning to make the most of every fleeting moment.

     There was a time, though, in the Old Testament when shoe leather didn’t grow brittle with age. Remember the story? After their freedom from Egyptian slavery, the Promised Land was within the Israelites’ grasp. Twelve spies were sent to scout the land. Ten returned with a discouraging report, causing God’s Chosen People to doubt His promise and power. Because they did, they spent 40 years in the wilderness due to their lack of faith in and disobedience toward Father God.

     In response to that lack of trust, God decreed that that generation would never enter the Promised Land. Instead, they would wander in the desert, allowing time for the disobedient generation to pass away and a new generation, prepared to trust and follow God, to arise. But God did not abandon them during that time. He provided manna from Heaven. Water from a gushing rock. And shoes that didn’t wear out.

     This preservation serves as a symbol of God’s unwavering love for His Chosen People. Because God is all-powerful, He provided for them, which was beyond their human ability to do. This miracle serves as a reminder of God’s promise to protect and sustain His people, as He ensured they lacked nothing essential during their desert wanderings.   

     This story symbolizes spiritual sustenance, too. Just as God provided for the physical needs of the Israelites, He also provides for the spiritual needs of His followers. Shoes that never wear out are symbolic of the enduring nature of God’s word and promises—they never wear out, nor do they diminish over time. This should encourage all Believers. It should reassure Believers that God is aware of our needs and is capable of providing for them in unexpected and miraculous ways, even when life is challenging and seemingly insurmountable.

     Today, take a moment to reflect on the ways that God has provided for you in your life. This should foster a spirit of gratitude and reliance in you due to His continued faithfulness. When I look at Uncle Charlie’s old shoes, which are on life support, I’m reminded of the Israelites’ shoes, which weren’t. During forty years in the wilderness, they never wore out. This should serve as a reminder that Father God’s love for His wayward believers never wanes, and His care is wide-ranging, encompassing both the ordinary and the monumental aspects of life.

     Ponder this and go forth.