In the late 1980’s, Nike released an ad featuring Michael Jordan and Spike Lee as the character Mars Blackmon. At the start of the commercial, Mars asks a question that was burning in many a mind of that day: “Yo, Mike! What makes you the best player in the universe?” He then goes on to explore potential sources of Jordan’s skill. He asks His Airness, “Is it the vicious dunks??? Is it the haircut??? Is it the extra-long shorts??? Is it the short socks???” Throughout the commercial, Mars reveals where he thinks the power really resides. No less than 10 times, he asks and insists, “IT’S GOTTA BE THE SHOES!”
While Michael Jordan consistently denied that his attire had anything to do with his abilities on a basketball court, many young men and young women of that day believed Mars was onto something. They/We believed that wearing the right attire could, at least to some degree, improve performance on the hardwood. If one simply had the right shorts, the right socks, and especially the right shoes, we could “be like Mike.” I currently have all of the things, including the haircut and more than a few pairs of THE shoes, and I assure you that I am no better a basketball player for any of it. Externals have very little impact on the outcome; It’s NOT the shoes!
Externals have very little impact on the outcome; It’s NOT the shoes!
Long before Mars, Michael, and Nike put out their advertisement, a shepherd came to the same conclusion. David and Goliath is arguably the most famous story ever told. It’s the story of a scrawny shepherd stepping up to and taking down a literal giant. As David prepares to head out to face the giant, the greatest warrior from among his people, King Saul, attempts to outfit David for the task. 1 Samuel 17:38-40 reads, “Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around because he was not used to them. ‘I cannot go in these,’ he said to Saul, ‘because I am not used to them.’ So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.”
David tried on all of the state of the art equipment the world had to offer at the time and he quickly realized it wasn’t going to work for him. Instead, David took what was already in his hands or on his person, but we need to understand that even that didn’t make David up to the task. David actually revealed the key to success earlier in 1 Samuel 17:37: “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me…” No amount of professionally manufactured attire or equipment could make him qualified or capable for the task at hand. David was going to rise or fall by grace through faith in his God.
What we truly need is the SPIRIT of God working in and through us.
There is no shortage of proverbial giants in our world today. They may look different in each of our lives, but each of us faces situations and circumstances that are well beyond our understanding and ability. Our tendency is to believe that if we can just mold ourselves into the image of others who have demonstrated skill in facing such situations, we too will find success and victory. But, we inevitably find that it’s not “the shoes.” No amount of external posturing will make a difference; we need internal transformation. What we truly need is the SPIRIT of God working in and through us.
Revelation 7:10 tells us, “Salvation belongs to our God.” When we put our trust in Him, He puts His Spirit in us. Only by grace through faith in Jesus do we find the salvation we so desperately need and do the giants fall before us. It’s only through His transformative power that we become all He created us to be and do all He intends for us to do. Michael was absolutely right; It’s not the shoes, as glorious as they may seem. It’s all about the Spirit!
