To a trained eye, footprints (tracks) can reveal a lot of information. The most obvious is the kind of animal that make the tracks, but there's more to a print than meets the eye. This trained individual can tell us how long ago the track was made, whether the animal was walking or running, whether he had a limp or a scar on a foot. One good point about being able to recognize tracks is to tell whether they were left by a predator or some more docile creature.

We, too, leave footprints as we go through life. Those that follow behind can see those tracks, and they tell a lot about us. We need to be careful about the kind of trail we are leaving, and we also need to be aware of tracks we see that we need to avoid (because they spell danger).

Gossip Tracks:

When we engage in idle gossip we leave a trail that is littered with debris. Contrary to what some might think, gossip is not the same thing as lying. Properly defined, gossip is: "a: a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others b: rumor or report of an intimate nature." Notice the word used is "facts." Gossip is telling the truth when it should not be told. Just because something is true does not mean it needs to be repeated to someone else.

The wise man, Solomon, said, "The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.." (Proverbs_18:8) He goes on to tell us, "He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip." (Proverbs_20:19)

Admonitions about gossip do not stop with the Old Testament. In Romans_1:28-29 Paul talks about some ungodly people to whom God had even turned His back. "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips."

What kind of trail do gossipers leave behind? Hurt feelings, destroyed friendships, bad reputations, etc. The most damaging thing a Christian does when they gossip is to cast a bad reflection of the Lord. In fact, Hebrews_6:6 says that people who fall away from following the Word of God "crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame." Do you want to be guilty of crucifying Jesus a second time? No? Then bite your tongue the next time you are tempted to gossip . . . or listen to someone else engage in this sinful practice.

Tracks of Hypocrisy:

Webster defines hypocrisy as: "a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion." In Matthew_23 Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their two-facedness. In verse_3 He said, "Therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them." When we tell others how they are to be godly, but we do not follow our own advice, we do more harm than good.

In addition to be hypocritical with our speech, we can do "good deeds" for "bad" reasons. Our Lord spoke of just this kind of people in Matthew_6:2 "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men." Jesus is not condemning these people for giving to the poor; He is coming down on them for their motive - to be seen by other people. Do you do your good deeds to be praised by others? Does it bother you if you do something and someone else gets "credit" for it? Christ said that the praise of others is the only reward the hypocrite has for his good deeds. Wouldn't you rather receive credit from God? "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." (Matthew_6:3-4)

Tracks of Jealousy:

Jealousy has ruined countless numbers of homes and individual lives. The Bible is filled with examples of people who (without the blight of jealousy) "might have been" great soldiers for the Lord. There is an old quotation (I think by Robert Browning) that goes, "No sadder words of tongue or men than just these three, It might have been." How many things can you thing of the might have been if.....

Sarai was jealous of Hagar after the birth of Isaac - even though it was her own idea that Abraham use this woman to have a son. "Therefore she said to Abraham, Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac." (Genesis_21:10-11) This resulted in Hagar and her son to be sent away into the wilderness, thus dividing a family and a nation.

Joseph's brothers were jealous of him and the attention their father paid to his youngest son. This attitude grew until it finally culminated in them selling him as a slave and deceiving Jacob into believing his favorite child was dead. Their sin caused a man to go through many years grieving for his son. Our actions never just affect us. They are like a stone thrown into a pond - the ripples move ever outward until they reach the shore.

Tracks of Bigotry:

The Bible doesn't use the word bigotry, but it uses several synonyms: partiality, favoritism, etc. Whatever the word, God condemns it. Notice the following scriptures:

• James 2:1 - "My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism."
• 1Timothy 5:21 - "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality."
• Galatians 2:6 - "But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me) God shows no partiality."
• Romans 2:11 - "For there is no partiality with God."
• Acts 10:34 - "Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality."

Godly Tracks:

Last (but not least) let's talk about the kind of footprints that God has instructed us to leave behind. Peter tells us, "...since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." (1_Peter2:21b)

Paul encouraged the Philippian Christians to follow the right "tracks" and avoid the wrong ones. "however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ." (Philippians_3:16-18) He went on (in 2Thessalonians_3:7) to tell the people in Thessalonica, "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you."

What kind of trail are you leaving behind as you walk through your life on earth? Do those that follow behind feel safe in walking in your footprints, or do they feel they need to turn the other way to avoid the pitfalls through which you are traveling. If we follow in the steps of the Lord, we can (like Paul) feel safe to tell those that come after us "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." (1Corinthians_11:1) Think about it.

©Jeanetta Watkins