On paper, it looks so simple. Enoch and Noah did it. They had only limited knowledge of the Lord—no Bible, no Gospels, no letters from Paul, no Psalms. In fact, they didn’t have the Law or Ten Commandments. Neither possessed the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as believers today. The world around Noah had become so corrupt and violent the Lord told him, I am about to destroy them with the earth (Gen 6:13). Both men despite all that happened around them, walked with God. Enoch walked with God (5:22); Noah walked with God (6:9). The Bible uses the word ‘walk’ in the literal sense with the basic idea of movement, moving around with one’s feet. However, scripture more often applies it metaphorically. It refers to the way individuals live or conduct their life; it means to follow a certain course of life or to conduct oneself in a certain way. In the New Testament writers, many times employed the present tense to indicate a continual mode of conduct or behavior and not an intermittent surge.
John clearly states the way Christians should conduct their life. The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked (1 Jn 2:6). In other words, walk or conduct your life as Jesus did. Paul adds, walk in a manner worthy of the calling (Eph 4:1); walk in love (5:2). These verses beg the question; how do we walk in this continual mode of behavior? You might be saying, “I’ve tried but failed.” The answer walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh (Gal 5:16). That is conduct your life by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and by the power He provides for us to live a Christlike life. Ok, that sounds simple, BUT. . .?
The struggle that believers encounter comes from their flesh also referred to as old nature, sinful nature, or old man. Jesus has given us a new nature or new man. Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life (Rom 8:4). This presents believers with a choice to either walk according to the flesh [the old nature]or according to the Spirit [the new nature] (8:4). Then why are many Christians not walking in their new nature? The Bible gives several reasons but at the top of the list is most often ignorance. The first instruction Paul writes to the Romans was for them to know; knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin (6:6). You can be sure Satan does not want us to know and understand this chapter. We can better translate done away with as ‘render powerless’. The old nature is still with us but rendered powerless unless we reconnect it.
The world constantly presents us with three temptations to sin, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life (1 Jn 2:16). The serpent tempted Eve and Adam by these three means and the devil later tempted Jesus in the same manner. Adam and Eve chose to walk in darkness presented by Satan. Jesus chose to walk in the light of the Word. Jesus assured those who follow Him, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12). Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts . . . but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God (Rom 6:12, 13).
Other issues that can hinder our walk with God come from people around us and even churches. Jesus warned the Pharisees and scribes they were walking according to the traditions of the elders. They neglected the commandments of God and held to the traditions of men. People pressure us to conform to their standards, insisting we adapt to social norms. To walk with the Lord requires that we not be conformed to this world. Paul chose an insightful word when he wrote Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Gal 5:25 NIV). Keep in step is a military word meaning, to walk orderly, to advance in rows or ranks. Another temptation is to get ahead of God or to lag behind. At some point, everyone thinks, “God is so slow” or “I’m tired and gonna stay here for a while and catch up later.” Walking with God is a continual step-by-step choice.
Walking with God doesn’t mean we never stumble or fail. Yet, we can rest assured if we fall He will pick us up, brush us off, and help us continue our spiritual journey. For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again (Pro 24:16 NIV). So how do we begin? An ancient Chinese proverb, which remains true today, said, The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
Sustaining Word for the Week: The first step, choose to walk in the Spirit. He will guide you and give you the power to take the next step, and the next step, and next . . .