Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

The Christian life is often characterized as a walk.To walk is one of the actions of the body that denotesmotion from one place to another. It is often used inScripture for the manner of life.The Christian Walkfn the fifth chapter of Ephesians Paul urges us to "beimitators of God, as beloved children, and to walk in love,as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrantoffering and sacrifice to God." He also describes the walkof darkness and reminds us that once we were darknessbut now, he says, "Ye are light in the Lord; walk aschildren of light."Three prepositions suggest to us three essentialcharacteristics of the believer's life, connected with aGodly walk. The three prepositions are WITH, BEFORE,AND AFTER. Walk with God; walk before God; andwalk after God.Of at least two characters in the Bible it is said, "Hewalked with God." "Enoch walked with God and he wasnot, for God took him." "Noah was a righteous man andperfect in his generations; Noah walked with God."Surely walking with some one signifies fellowship,for "Can two walk together except they be agreed?"The spiritual experiences of those who walk withGod are not static. Walking with God is moving alongwith Him. It is going where He is going and living incompanionship with Him. You can sometimes tell thatpeople are related by watching them walk together.Notice a father and son. How often they walk and actalike. Of course you are familiar with the TV commercial,"Like Father, Like Son." Walking with God indicates therelationship between God and His children.What was the result of Enoch's walking with God?I've always liked the way a little girl told the story. Shesaid that one day Enoch went walking with God, and theywalked so far that God just said to Enoch, "You just comeon and go home with me." And that is what Enoch did. Myown father went home that way. He went to sleep onenight and during the night he slipped away without evenmoving in his sleep. A dear cousin said, "It reminded meof Enoch. He walked with God, and he was not, for Godtook him."And Noah? For him, walking with God meant thesalvation of himself and of his household. For he built anark into which he and his family went and remainedduring all the days of the flood upon the earth.Micah also has something to say about walking withGod. "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good. Whatdoes the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to lovekindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Walkhumbly with God? What does humility mean?Andrew Murray says: "Humility is perfect quietnessof heart. It is never to be fretted or irritated or sore, ordisappointed. It is to be at rest when nobody praises meand when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessedhome in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door andkneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a sea ofcalmness when all around and above is troubled."It costs something to walk with God. Some are notwilling to pay the price, as was the case of some of thedisciples who "walked no more with Him" afte"r Hisdiscourse on the Bread of Life. But there is a reward forwalking with Him. If we are faithful in our walk we will befound worthy of walking with Him forever.To walk with GodTo talk with GodTo wait with GodWastes no strength.Walk on.Wastes no breathTalk on.Wastes no time.Wait on.Walking before God is associated with holiness. Towalk before God means to be continually under God'seye. God's command to Abraham was "I am GodAlmighty; walk before me and be thou perfect." lacob sawthe covenant made with Abraham worked out. Hear himsaying, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham andIsaac did walk, the God who hath fed me all my life longunto this day . bless the lads."To David God said, "There shall not fail thee a manin my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, // only thychildren take heed to their way, to walk before me, asthou hast walked before me."Solomon could say God kept His promise. "Thouhast shown unto thy servant, David, my father, greatloving kindness according as he walked before thee intruth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart."There are so many promises if we walk before Godthat we cannot mention all of them. We are offeredprotection and all the necessary things of this life: "Seekye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." God\\ill keep His covenant with us if we fulfill the condition —"God who keepest covenant and loving kindness with thyservants that walk before thee with all their heart."God has done great things for us. "He has delivered mysee page 7APRIL 14, 1971 3