Walking with God
Introduction. God once asked His people: “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3). For all eternity God has walked (lived) the same path of honor and integrity. When He “created us in His image and after His likeness,” He expected and hoped we would walk that path with Him. As He has always been righteous and just and always used His power and authority in love toward all, He wanted us to do the same. In Him “there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (Jas. 1:17). Thus to walk with Him we must agree with Him in all ways and always bend our will to His.
Walking with or Contrary to God. God told Israel He had given them commandments so they could walk with Him. “If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them... I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” (Lev. 26:3, 10). He also warned them against straying from this path and walking contrary to Him. “If by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins” (Lev. 26:23-24). After centuries of walking contrary to Him, God sent prophets to warn them. “Thus says the Lord: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it” (Jer. 6:16). In a powerful picture of God’s love and mercy He said: “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts” (Isa. 65:2). Thus when we walk contrary to God it is first “according to our own thoughts,” and second “it is not good.” Yet God, in compassion waits with His arms outstretched, still hoping we will walk with Him.
Nothing Has Changed. Each of us must also choose to walk “with” or “contrary to” God. Will we “agree” and “walk together” with Him? Though some affirm it, Scripture is not archaic and man has not grown beyond it. With God “a thousand years is as a day,” so while we see changes in time and circumstances God does not. What does a single life span, a century or thousands of years mean to our God who “inhabits eternity and “changes not?” “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). Don’t be deceived, God’s Word is still the only roadmap that reveals the narrow path God walks and wants us to walk with Him.
A Difficult Way. When “the Word became flesh He dwelt among us and we beheld His glory.” The apostles saw firsthand the glory a true walk with God manifested. Jesus recorded His path of glory for us to walk, but warned we would have to “strive to enter” it. First, He described a “narrow gate” not easy to find. “For narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mt. 7:13). To find this narrow gate, we must avoid the “wide gate” “leading to destruction.” Yet even those who find this “narrow gate” and actually enter “the path” are warned of the grave danger of straying back onto the “broad way.” Since “It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23), we must seek guidance from Scripture before we take each step. At all costs we must “no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind” (Eph. 4:17). Hence before any course of action is selected, we first turn to Scripture and determine if it will keep us on the path that leads to life.
Conclusion. God has a path He walks and man has a path. God has His ways and man has created ways of his own. God has thoughts and man has devised thoughts of a different nature. God’s thoughts and ways are eternal and lead to eternal life for those who love Him. Man’s ways and thoughts can only lead to death for they lead away from God. If we want to walk with God in this life and continue to walk with Him after this life is over, then “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6:8).
Walking with or Contrary to God. God told Israel He had given them commandments so they could walk with Him. “If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them... I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” (Lev. 26:3, 10). He also warned them against straying from this path and walking contrary to Him. “If by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins” (Lev. 26:23-24). After centuries of walking contrary to Him, God sent prophets to warn them. “Thus says the Lord: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it” (Jer. 6:16). In a powerful picture of God’s love and mercy He said: “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts” (Isa. 65:2). Thus when we walk contrary to God it is first “according to our own thoughts,” and second “it is not good.” Yet God, in compassion waits with His arms outstretched, still hoping we will walk with Him.
Nothing Has Changed. Each of us must also choose to walk “with” or “contrary to” God. Will we “agree” and “walk together” with Him? Though some affirm it, Scripture is not archaic and man has not grown beyond it. With God “a thousand years is as a day,” so while we see changes in time and circumstances God does not. What does a single life span, a century or thousands of years mean to our God who “inhabits eternity and “changes not?” “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). Don’t be deceived, God’s Word is still the only roadmap that reveals the narrow path God walks and wants us to walk with Him.
A Difficult Way. When “the Word became flesh He dwelt among us and we beheld His glory.” The apostles saw firsthand the glory a true walk with God manifested. Jesus recorded His path of glory for us to walk, but warned we would have to “strive to enter” it. First, He described a “narrow gate” not easy to find. “For narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mt. 7:13). To find this narrow gate, we must avoid the “wide gate” “leading to destruction.” Yet even those who find this “narrow gate” and actually enter “the path” are warned of the grave danger of straying back onto the “broad way.” Since “It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23), we must seek guidance from Scripture before we take each step. At all costs we must “no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind” (Eph. 4:17). Hence before any course of action is selected, we first turn to Scripture and determine if it will keep us on the path that leads to life.
Conclusion. God has a path He walks and man has a path. God has His ways and man has created ways of his own. God has thoughts and man has devised thoughts of a different nature. God’s thoughts and ways are eternal and lead to eternal life for those who love Him. Man’s ways and thoughts can only lead to death for they lead away from God. If we want to walk with God in this life and continue to walk with Him after this life is over, then “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6:8).
- "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Josh 1:7-9)