An ancient Chinese proverb says, “The journey of a thousand miles begins under your feet” (Loazi, 4th century BC). Some may scoff at the profound obviousness of this statement. Others might stencil it on the wall of their house. Whatever your opinion of this proverb, the way that is it used accurately highlights the most important part of any journey or any task one is about to take-up. You have to take the first step.
There were a lot of “first steps” in the lives of the Biblical characters. Noah was called by God to build an ark (Gen. 6:13-21). After God spoke to Noah the Bible records Noah’s reaction, “Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did” (6:22). We don’t know what his first step was. It could have been any number of things: prayer, offering, talk with Mrs. Noah or family. The important thing is that he took it. “By faith Noah…prepared an ark for the salvation of his household… and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Heb 11:7).
Abraham was another famous patriarch to take some steps with God. “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you’” (Gen. 12:1). Abraham’s response was recorded, “So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him” (Gen. 12:4). As with Noah, we don’t know what his very first step was, but he did something that propelled him forward in a life of faith being called “the father of all” in reference to those that are children of God by faith (Rom. 4:16). Along his journey there were many times where he might have wavered or questioned the validity of the message he was given. The Bible says this about him, “Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform” (Rom. 4:19-21).
While we may not know the exact first step for these and the countless others who have journeyed with God in faith, we can know this—the first step of our journey and the changes we want to make in our lives must start with faith and full conviction that the full weight of God’s power, promise and providential care goes with us. We all have taken steps but maybe some of us have stopped. It is time to start again. It might be time to encourage those around you to walk in faith. Or you may be near the end of your walk and you are awaiting the reward that waits for those who have walked in faith.