I have a tendency to count stair steps.  I think this habit started when I would go up and down stairs with lots of things in my hands and couldn't see where I was walking while growing up on the farm.  Today I know that when I reach step fifteen my feet are firmly on the landing at the house I'm staying at.  Two steps need to be climbed before reaching the church's office area.  Did you know that there are nine steps that lead from the north entry door to the church sanctuary?  In order to kneel at the communion rail, two steps are climbed. Besides counting the number of steps that lead from one level, to another, I've also learned that it is also important to remember that some steps come in various heights, depths, or widths.  Many times I have stumbled because I forgot that a series of steps ranged in various sizes.   

One could say our life story includes a series of steps that are climbed, each step representing a different stage of life.  For example, one step was made when we went from being held to learning to climb.  Another step was climbed when we found out it was faster using our feet than our knees to get around.  A different step was made when our babbles turned to chatter, and an entirely liquid diet was replaced with ground foods which were easy to swallow and spit out!  Other steps along the way were the numerous "firsts" (i.e. first day of school, first time we read an entire book by ourselves, first time behind the wheel of a car, etc.)   

As we progress from one step of life to another, we have a choice to make, to either invite Christ along or to proceed by ourselves.  If you're like me, when things are going well, I tend to bound up the steps without thinking about taking Him along.  However, when the steps become too tall for me to reach on my own because of a set back in my life, I'm not hesitant in asking for His help so together we can make it to the next level.  Christ would love to be my traveling companion for every step, just like He would love to be there for your step climbing experience.

Recently, I did a series on different religions.  As we looked at what the different religions taught, we found one striking similarity: these people proclaim that there is more to do than what Christ taught.  Being saved through faith has been shoved aside and replaced with a belief that works and worship of someone else besides the true God will earn them an eternal reward. 

As Dr. Paul Maier wrote, "Christianity is supported geographically, historically, and archaeologically whereas other religions go on blind faith."  Too many are trying to reach the prize on steps that are constantly crumbling under their feet.  Jesus becomes the step necessary to bring everyone to the final spot with our Father at heaven's gates.  There isn't a thing we can do to build that final step to gain entrance into heaven.  It is ours only through Christ.

As we climb each step, we also reach one step closer to reaching the top, which is the end of our life.  None of us knows how many steps are actually in our individual staircase, or even how long we will be on each step.  I pray that as each of us proceeds up our individual stairway, Christ will be our traveling companion through both the steps of joy and sorrow.  Most of all, I pray that you appreciate Christ's gift to you, the final step to bring you safely into His waiting arms in heaven.

Enjoying the ride,