The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled down, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand (Psalm 37:23-24 NASB).
In November of 2021, I traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to conduct a pastor’s seminar for the Southwestern Hispanic Region of the Church of God. I awakened early Saturday morning, November 21, and decided to go for a run. I was staying in a hotel near a medical center with paved sidewalks that were well lighted. I was about two miles into my run when I tripped and fell flat on my face. It happened so fast that I couldn’t catch myself. My face and knees were bloodied.
As I laid on the concrete sidewalk, groaning in pain, I realized that I could not just stay there. So I carefully got up and examined myself for injuries. After I determined that nothing was broken, I began walking back to the hotel. After several steps, I was feeling better and decided to finish my run, which I did. When I walked into the lobby of the hotel, the receptionist screamed. I told her, “I’m good. It looks worst than it is. I just need to take a shower.”
That morning I conducted my seminar, bearing my scars and feeling my bruises. That afternoon I completed a six mile hike through the Sonoran Desert.
The next morning, on Sunday, I preached, again bearing my scars and feeling my bruises. By now, my eyes were black. I had those shiners for a couple of weeks.
The notion of falling is replete in scripture. We refer to the original sin of humanity as “the Fall.” Scripture warns us to walk carefully in the way of the Lord lest we stumble and fall. There are many examples of men and women, who desired to walk faithfully, but stumbled and fell. Sometimes, we fall because of weakness, sometimes because of desires, and sometimes we fall because of bad choices. Sometimes the circumstances of life overwhelm us and we fall into depression and even unbelief.
What should we do when we fall? We get up, examine ourselves, and call on the mercy of God. When we do, we discover the depths of God’s grace. God suffers long with us. When we fall, God gives us the strength to get up. We may still bear the bruises of the fall, but in God’s grace those bruises eventually heal.
John the apostle declared, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness… My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous… (1 John 1:9; 2:1). Grace is not a license to sin. Grace is the remedy for sin.
Jesus reminds us that it is not the self-righteous Pharisee who is unaware of his sinfulness who is justified. In fact, it is often the self-righteous Pharisee who is happy to throw stones at sinners (John 8:1ff). Rather, it is the self-aware sinner who calls on the mercy of God who is justified (Luke 18:13-14).
In my many miles of walking, running, and hiking, I’ve sometimes tripped and fallen. Likewise, in my walk with Jesus over the past four decades, I’ve stumbled and fallen. I’ve conducted ministry bearing the bruises of a fall. Even so, Jesus has never walked away from me. Instead, He has always extended his hand, helped me to my feet, and guided my way.
The apostle Paul encourages us to extend the same kind of grace to those who have fallen into sin: “Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:1-2 NASB).
