“The Gift of the Mismatched Shoes” (A TRUE Story)

If I am convinced that all supernatural signs, wonders, healings, and miracles fizzled out when the last of the early church apostles departed this life for their heavenly rewards, then it is very unlikely that I will ever see those things in my lifetime. Or, if I do, I will find some “natural” explanation. What is often called “faith” in the modern church is actually just “wishful thinking”, or “claiming” something we want from God. For those rare Christ-followers who have learned to be still, to ascertain God’s will, and then wait to “hear” the faith from God, it is “as good as done” when He finally impresses, or “speaks” that “Word” into their spirits.

John 14:12 ESV “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

The following is just one excerpt from the biography of G.C. Bevington, a “holiness evangelist” in the areas of Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee during the 1920’s, a time when – depending upon your age – your parents, grandparents, or perhaps great-grandparents were living. Reading Bevington’s life story is a good “antidote” for the unsettling influence of the many fake “healing evangelists” of our time. This account is only one of the “lesser” miracles that attended the life and ministry of this godly man:

“…I will give another incident in the [missions outreach] work in Cincinnati. There I received clothing for the poor, and distributed it. I was out at Mt. Lookout, a suburb of Cincinnati, and a sister there gave me some clothing. In a few weeks I noticed that one of our strong members was not out for a week or so, so I went out to see what was the matter. I found her washing, and reminded her that several services had passed without her presence, which was rather an unusual occurrence. She was a poor woman, with three children, and had to pay her rent, but never allowed us to help her, as we were accustomed to help many others in similar circumstances. As she seemed loathe to give a reason for being absent, I noticed that she had on quite poor shoes, and finally I said, ‘Sister, are those the best shoes you have?’ Blushing, she turned her back on me, making me feel that those were her best; but she finally said, ‘Now, Brother Bevington, I will have to admit that they are. I am expecting to get a pair next week, as I am to keep the children clothed and fed regardless of my need.’

So I returned to my room; and that being Thursday evening, I began to plead a new pair of shoes for her, as I had none that I felt were good enough for her, and therefore I prayed the more. I just held on. Finally, I looked at my watch, and it was two minutes of 4:00 a. m. I had been there ten or eleven hours. Then I dropped on my face again, and inside of thirty minutes I saw a pair of ladies’ shoes, and new ones, too. That was Friday, nearly 7:00 a. m. I went to my breakfast satisfied that all would be all right for a pair of shoes for the Friday night meeting; that was our regular evangelistic night service. When I came back, I was detained some, and did not get to the mission until about 10:00 a. m, and went into the prayer room. One of the kindergarten teachers came out, and said, ‘There is a lady wanting to see you.’ She came out into the main hall, and said, ‘Brother Bevington, I bought a pair of shoes this morning, but one is at least two sizes larger than the other. They look like mates, but they cannot be. The ones I tried on at the store fit me nicely. Then, as I was near here, I thought that I would run in and see the kindergarten children work; and while waiting to see you, I thought I would put on my new shoes and wear them home, but found one to be entirely too large.’ I said, ‘Praise the Lord. I prayed all night last night for a pair of shoes, and I guess these are the ones.’ ‘Yes, but, Brother Bevington it seems too bad to give such a pair of shoes as that to anyone, and I don’t want to take them back.’ (She was most too proud to do that so she concluded to see if I could work them off to a good advantage.) I said, ‘She is a poor woman, and needs the shoes, and she can easily put cotton batting in the larger one, and the smaller one, I think, will fit her all right.’

‘Here they are; you take them up.’

But I wanted her to see this woman, as I felt that she might be able to help her in various ways. So I insisted on her taking them, as she would have to walk near that home to get her street car. Finally she took up the shoes and started for the woman’s home, and found her busy with her ironing. She introduced herself, and said, ‘Brother Bevington sent me here, on a rather embarrassing errand.’ She set the shoes out, not telling the woman that one was larger than the other. All the time she was talking about the shoes and other things, the sister kept thinking, ‘What will I do, as I can’t wear those shoes, as my right foot is nearly two sizes smaller than my left, and I hate to tell her.’ But she concluded to take the shoes, and probably could exchange them. The woman started home, but she was impressed that she must tell the sister, so she returned and she told about the shoes. The sister just laughed heartily, and said, ‘Which is the larger?’ ‘The left one.’ Then she laughed more than ever, and said, ‘Well, well, well! God surely understands all things, as my left foot is nearly two sizes larger than my right. Here it is just as I want it. Oh, praise the Lord.’ Now, I knew nothing about the difference in the size of her feet, but God did, and see how He worked in order to answer my all-night prayer. Isn’t that enough to convince us that God fully understands His business? I say, ‘Yes.’ What do you say?”

(Excerpt: G.C. Bevington bio, c. 1920)

Bryan