“And Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them.” Luke 24:15
Dear Ones:
In the book of Genesis, before the Lord confronted Adam and Eve concerning their disobedience, Scripture tells us: “And they heard the voice of the Lord God WALKING in the garden in the cool of the day.” (Gen. 3:8) What a beautiful picture of the Son of God walking to meet Adam and Eve, most certainly to call them to walk along with Him. Why? What is the supreme objective of “walking?” It is that of communion, the mutual experience of sharing LIFE, the very life of God by the Spirit. Even though the Lord Jesus knew that Adam had sinned, and the terrible consequences of that act were about to unleashed, He came walking…seeking. He had not changed in His attitude, desire, and will, to have fellowship with man.
One of the great, and interesting figures found in the “hall of faith, ” in Hebrews, chapter eleven, is Enoch. He was particular in that he did not die, but God took him straight to heaven. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews writes: “…he (Enoch) had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (11:5) If we look at Enoch in the book of Genesis, we find twice that it is written of him, “…and Enoch WALKED with God.” (5:22,24) Walking with God is pleasing to God.
When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, the Lord said unto him, “I am the Almighty God; WALK before Me, and be thou perfect.” (17:1) What is Abraham’s calling here? It is to communion with God, that sharing of Christ’s divine life and blessing, even though Abraham has “feet of clay.” When Jesus called the twelve disciples, Mark tells us, “…And He ordained twelve, that they should be WITH Him.” (3:14) The Lord Jesus called these men to be with Him, to walk with Him, to commune with Him. Out of this communion and contact, was born service of blessing. Walking with God speaks of proximity to God, conformity to Christ, oneness in fellowship with Him.
Beyond Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to indwell the heart of the believer, the words of the apostle Paul change a little with regard to “walking.” It is true that the words spoken to Abraham concerning “walking before God” remain in tact for every believer, for they are forever true. It is also true that the words spoken to Joshua the high priest in the book of Zechariah are equally true concerning walking: “…If you will WALK in MY ways.” (3:7) But the apostle Paul takes us to yet another level, or plateau of understanding. It is as if we climb Mt. Nebo with Moses and gaze into the promised land. In the book of Galatians, we are called to: “Walk IN the Spirit…,” and “…be led BY the Spirit.” (5:16,18) Because of this blessed union with Christ, we have the marvelous privilege and responsibility to walk before God, and this BY God, being IN Christ by the Spirit. All becomes possible, to “Christ the power of God in me,” in us. Where does one begin in the consideration of this “walk?”
We must always begin with a “vision,” a perception and grasp of what is true in our relationship with Christ. If we are to “walk with God,” and before Him, then we must have a vision of that which He wills, desires, and is ever working to bring about in us. His call is to “immediacy,” or availability. When Paul and Silas, after they were “forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia,” and then directed NOT to go to Bithynia, Paul had what is called the “Macedonian Vision,” where God made clear His calling for them to go there. The reaction of Paul and Silas reveals to us how “in tune” they were with the Spirit: “IMMEDIATELY we endeavored to go.” (Acts 16:10) The call to walk with God is not a calling to lag behind, nor to push ahead, but to walk in faith, in the present moment, attentive and yet, responsive to “…the inward impulses of the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit of God has been given to us, not only to “reveal the things of God to us,” but also to “…bear witness with our spirit.” (Rom. 8:16) He, the Spirit of truth, leads us according to truth, but reveals Himself to us, giving us to know His leading by His desires, conviction, and confirmation with clarity.
Dear Father, what a wonderful reality that we can, and will, walk before Thee this day. Give us to see also that this calling to walk before Thee is one also to walk WITH and BY Thee. Open our eyes to see the magnitude of Your desire and will, to bring us into increasing communion with Thee, as we are led and strengthened by Thy Spirit. We thank and praise Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad