Walking With God

by Willis, A. G. | Category: General | Apr 1975

"And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Gen. 5:24)

What an epitaph to be written of any man! Could there be a more appropriate description of a life on earth lived in serenity and harmony with the great eternal God of heaven? To walk with God in the sweetness of unbroken communion and love; this surely is the highest pinnacle of human experience and the secret of all blessedness.

The simple statement-walking with God-suggests profound and precious truths for our consideration. Firstly, we do well to turn our thoughts to the One who ever walked in perfect accord with His God and Father. "His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold" is a fitting description of Him who is the "Chiefest among ten thousand" (Song of Songs 5:10,1 5). Upright and majestic, the perfect Man took every step of His earthly sojourn in willing obedience that led Him on, even to the death of the cross. John as guided by the Spirit, caught the vision: "he looked upon Jesus as He walked, and faith, Behold, the Lamb of God" (John 1 :36). The beauty of the Lord was manifested in His gracious bearing, and in His acts of healing and blessing.

Our standing in Christ is eternally secure: we have been "quickened ... raised ... to sit with Him in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:5, 6) Our walk should be the practical expression of our heavenly character, and in this we need to walk worthily of the calling wherewith we are called (Eph 4:1). In the way of holiness we move step by step along a pathway that daily brings us nearer to our glorious consummation.

Walking with God is a matter of spiritual growth and discernment. As in the natural realm so in the spiritual; the child stands, then takes a few faltering steps and gradually begins to walk. In Acts chapter three we read of the man who was lame from birth, unable to stand, left outside the services of the sanctuary. But the grace and power of God reached him and he was raised up- strength came to those weakened legs and feet. Joy filled his heart, and leaping up, he stood, and began to walk. The joy of sins forgiven lifts us up, then we realise that new life in Christ enables us to walk in newness of life. Some may seek 'mounting up' experiences, yet it is in the 'daily round and common task' that we need to learn to walk and not to faint.

Let us now look briefly at some of the conditions and lessons we must learn if we are to truly walk with God.

Relationship with God

Walk in the light. The darkness of sin is ever the great barrier that separates man from God: "If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" (1 John 1:6). Adam, created in the image of God, enjoyed fellowship with his Creator. Through disobedience this communion was broken: "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day... and the LORD God called unto the man, Where art thou? And he said... I was afraid... and I hid myself" (Gen. 3: 8, 9). The dust of earth clings to us and soils our feet. Sin darkens our path. We need to know the daily cleansing and washing of His Word if we are to walk in step with Him.

Communion with God

One has truly said, 'If you walk with God you must talk with God or you will soon cease to walk with Him'. Walking implies movement, but if we are to walk in step with God then He must set the pace. Our restless spirits are often in too great a hurry - we want to be on the move. Too much activity can lead to spiritual poverty. Like Martha we can become over-anxious as we are occupied for Christ instead of, like Mary, being occupied with Him. We need to pause, to ponder and to wonder. To seek the quiet times of waiting and listening in the stillness of His presence. 'They that wait upon the LORD.. shall walk and not faint" (Isa. 40:31).

Continuing with God

Walking is a progressive action, there must be a consistent 'going on'. To go forward is our greatest safeguard against going back. This means a continual walk of faith with God~ How sad to read of some of the disciples of the Lord who went back and walked no more with Him (John 6:66).

Noah lived in a day of gross wickedness when "the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence" (Gen. 6:11). We see much of this in the world today. Doubtless there was much to trouble and perplex him, yet we read, "Noah walked with God". The same word is used in the case of Enoch; it means, to go on habitually We think too of David who passed through a labyrinth of human experiences. Difficulties and trials often beset his path. Although he knew and could speak of the green pastures and still waters, at other times the darkness of the valley cast its shadows. Yet in confident trust he could say, "Though I walk... I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me" (Psa. 23:4). He who walks with God is never alone.

The Transforming Walk

As we truly walk with God, so shall we know more of Him. As we know more of Him we become more like Him. When Moses, the man of God, came down from the mount after being in the presence of the Lord he "wist not that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with Him" (Ex. 34:29). All unawares the glory of the Lord was reflected in his face. Would we live fragrant and Christlike lives? The secret lies in knowing God and walking with Him. It is in the daily constant walk with God as our heavenly Companion that we can know His transforming power in our lives: "But we all, with unveiled face reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18).

How lovely are the faces of

The men who talk with God,

Lit with an inner sureness of

The path their feet have trod.

How gentle is the manner of

A man who walks with Him,

No strength can overcome him,

And no cloud his courage dim.

Such lives are free

From doubt and fear,

While others merely plod.

But lovely faces mark the men

Who walk and talk with God.

The Daily Walk

What of the practical issues? How often our walking with God becomes clouded over amid the pressures and disappointments of our daily life! We lack the vision. Our faith is weak and we fail to grasp the unseen. The conscious realisation of walking with the God of the universe finds all too little response as we become occupied with lesser things.

Some time ago, in the course of his work, the present writer visited an elderly gentleman-an ordained Anglican minister, well educated, widely travelled, a Hebrew and Greek scholar and fluent in two or three European languages. He had the opportunity of conversing with him on matters relating to Christian doctrine and practice. On one such visit, during our talking together, almost with tears in his eyes, as he looked round his bedroom-study lined with shelves of his many books, he said, "What counts for far more than all this, or anything else, is to know and experience a closer walk with God".

In a complex and confused world we perhaps often loose sight of the things that really matter. The words of the prophet Micah (6:8), uttered so long ago, surely have a clear and direct message for us today: "He hath shewed thee, 0 man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

Willis, A. G. | Apr 1975
General