A Leg to Stand On (Nov 14)

The other day, I was standing in the parking area at the end of 3rd Ave in Ford City, when I heard a screech. When I looked up, I saw a car round the turn off of the bridge, slowing down in a cloud of dust, and one of the rear wheels just kept on rolling. I stood there and helplessly watched as the wheel rolled on down the street, missing traffic in the other lane. It crossed into the oncoming lane for awhile, and then cut down 2nd Street, cut through someone’s yard, flirted with hitting the house, then crossed the avenue, passed narrowly between some parked cars, all before rolling up the hill and coming to rest in the grass. The car’s driver, meanwhile, had managed to get the car off the road, where it sat, awkwardly balancing on the remaining three wheels. You see, cars don’t drive well without all four wheels. They’re not balanced correctly. They wouldn’t have the support. The same goes for a chair, a stool, or even a person. If you’re standing there minding your own business and I sneak up from behind and knock out one of your legs, you’re going to fall. Sure, you could probably balance on one foot for awhile, but your body is balanced in such a way as to stand on two legs. A dog or cat balances on four legs. If you’ve seen a three-legged animal, they usually get around OK, but it’s a bit of a struggle.

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “without a leg to stand on” or “he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.” It basically means that the person has no chance of success in their venture. It’s a metaphoric idiom which transfers a lack of physical support to arguments or theories. You’ll often hear it used with regards to legal issues. If someone tries to bring a lawsuit against another when they, in fact, are the one in the wrong, or they don’t really have evidence, or it’s for some other silly reason, people will often dismiss the threat and say, “Oh, don’t worry about losing this case; he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.” You’ll hear it in arguments and debates, or in regards to false accusations. Basically, the person has no support. They have nothing to back up their claims. They have nothing to help them out. Lacking support, they’ll just crumble and fall. Their venture is doomed to failure.

Those guys that were in the car that I mentioned earlier were driving around with all four wheels. But, apparently, the lug nuts were loose and when the one wheel spun off, they lacked support, and found themselves stuck by the road. So, here you are, walking through life on your two feet. Your life is a testimony and proof of the words that you speak. You say you’re a Christian. You tell people that God is great and that they need Him. You talk about healing, deliverance, protection, leading and direction, peace, joy, encouragement, and so many other things that come with the Christian walk. People are watching your walk. They’re watching whether you stumble. They’re watching how it will turn out. So, does your life have substance? Do your words have support? Does your God show His greatness in you? Do you have a leg to stand on? Or do you lose a wheel and come screeching to halt on the side of the road?

1Co 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Rom 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

1Co 2:3-5 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. (4) And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (5) That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Jud 1:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

You’ve got God’s Word to stand on, you’ve got faith in a faithful God to stand on, and you’ve got a God that is able to keep you from falling…so don’t buckle or stumble…you’ve got a leg to stand on!