Choose well and walk with God
In Genesis chapter two we see a beautiful glimpse of God walking with man. God shaped Adam with His own hands. He breathed into his nostrils the breath that brought him life. He brought all the animals and birds to Adam to see what Adam would name them, and when God sensed Adam’s loneliness, He put Adam to sleep and made Adam a wife.
God and Adam were companions, friends. God came to walk in Adam and Eve’s garden “in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8).
Just a few chapters later we read of Enoch. Enoch is just one name in a chapter recording the line of people from Adam to Noah. But Enoch was given a special description, not once, but twice.
“And Enoch walked with God…”
The next chapter of Genesis gives us a description of Noah. We’re told:
“Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.”
There would be others, too, like Moses, about whom God would say: “With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord” (Numbers 12:8).
Fast forward to Solomon, the son of another man who walked with God (David). Solomon was given wisdom, and one of the evidences of that wisdom is the book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes was written from the standpoint of a man who tried to fill himself with pleasure, riches, and accomplishments only to find they were meaningless.
“God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes.”
In the end, so few things matter. You may have achieved little or much, accumulated little or much, or accomplished little or much from a worldly standpoint. You may be surrounded by a room of people, or you may die alone.
The question that matters at the end of your life will not be, “how much?” but “Did you walk with God?”
And how do we walk with God?
“God said, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.””
To seek God is to believe He is God and to believe He is the Savior we need. It is to to embrace the Spirit's work in our heart instead of putting out the Spirit's fire. It is to recognize that we can't on our own make our way to heaven, but we seek Him as our means of salvation.
“Jesus said, “My sheep know me… they listen to my voice.” ”
The only way to know God’s voice is to read His Word. Just as when you speak, those around you hear your voice, so when you are in God’s Word, you hear His voice.
But what if you don’t understand scripture?
Then you pray and keep reading.
In 2001 Michael W. Smith released the song, “Open the eyes of My Heart.” The prayer in the song is: Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, I want to see You.
Each time I lead a bible study I pray for the Holy Spirit to come and work in our hearts as we study the Word. I pray He helps us to understand, and leads us to turn to God and away from our sins.
Walking with God means taking His commands seriously.
“Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.””
I didn’t fully understand this until I became a parent myself. So much of what we ask our children to do is beyond their comprehension. We tell little children to stay out of the street long before they understand the danger the street could be. We put school-age children to bed earlier than they want because we want them to enjoy the benefits of being rested. They, at times, find this a cruel punishment, instead of blessing.
At times God’s commands seem burdensome to us. We don’t understand the benefit of what He asks us to do. Walking with God is to trust and obey even if we don’t understand, because we know His character and understand He only does what is good.
Walking with God will be one of the hardest things you will do. It will put you in opposition to some people. Mary, who chose the one thing needed, was criticized by her sister for not helping (Luke 10:40) when she chose to listen to Jesus instead, and she was criticized by Judas when her worship was lavish (John 12:5). Daniel was thrown in a lion’s den (Daniel 6), his friends endured the fire (Daniel 3). Joseph went to prison for walking with God (Genesis 39). When walking with God brought David success he moved to the top of King Saul’s hit list (1 Samuel 18, 19).
But walking with God will be the easiest thing you do, too. As you face opposition, God will meet you. When you are in need, God provides; when you are down, God comforts; when you are lost, God shows you where to go (1 Kings 19:4-18, Isaiah 30:21).
He will help you to run with horses (Jeremiah 12:5) and walk on water (Matthew 14:29) time after time after time when you seek Him with all your heart.
So choose well, my friends. There's no point in walking alone when you can walk with God.
