No Sneakers In Heaven

I was on a recent Zoom call and I decided to stick around for some “virtual fellowship” following a men’s lesson. During this time the guest speaker mentions a time he had an opportunity to score a piece of history. I mean a true artifact that any kid like me who grew up in the 1990’s could only dream about seeing quite possibly in a museum one day, let alone in hand. This was something that to this day would be worth close to the amount of my current mortgage if still in a fairly decent condition and sold to the highest bidder. We are talking about a hand delivered and personally signed pair of Michael “Air” Jordan sneakers offered during his early playing days, that as told by this brother, “had not come out yet”, adding to the allure that these could be of an extremely rare pair of history. Now, I consider myself an avid sneaker enthusiast. I mean most guys or gals who grew up in my era could quite easily have picked up this habit in a time that Jordan was iconic. What blew me away was the brother’s response when offered the chance at being gifted this monument of history. He said, “no thanks, I don’t play basketball”. At the time I assume there was really no way to foresee who Michael Jordan would become or how popular these shoes would turn out to be one day, so give this brother some grace.

As I relive the hearing of this story, I am reminded of how easily I can become fixated on things of this world. The clutch of the things that “moths have eaten” (James 5:2) or the potential that these items will rot and corrode one day (James 5:3) is a strong reminder of where my heart and mind can be. The book of James is extremely potent in its direct relation to reminding us how our minds can be easily strayed from what is truly most important. What are you storing up for yourself? This is a question that cuts deep to the heart often and I have to be reminded that the Lord is coming! Instead of being focused on planning my next purchase or investment I need to learn to be patient for the valuable crop God is producing within me (James 5:7-8).

It is easy to be distracted or to become aligned with the world’s view on what is most valuable, but as James summarizes at the end of chapter 5, we must take the time to pray regardless of the situation we face (James 5:13) as well as confess to others (James 5:16) the sins we commit. Despite the pull of the world, it is with prayer and confession that we can realign our hearts and minds to have faith like Elijah, who James reminds us, was as “human as we are”. Despite his failings, his faith and righteousness gave way for prayer that would shift the climate, both literally and figuratively (James 5:17-18).

I suggest you ask yourself (and others) today, how can I continue to be righteous (or become righteous) so that my prayers are truly more powerful and effective despite the constant attraction that the things of this world lure me with?