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Walking the Narrow Way
Walking With God “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6). People once spent most of their time providing for the necessities of life. Manual labor was the norm. There was little time or need for additional exercise. Around 400 BC, Hippocrates said: “If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.” The current fascination with exercise began in the early eighteenth century with the dawn of the post-industrial age. That was when new technologies gave unprecedented freedom from physical labor. Millions of people moved off of farms and into cities. The quality of life improved in many ways but physical fitness did not. At the time of World War I, one third of army draftees were deemed unfit to serve. In the 1920s there was a decline in health, exacerbated by poor nutrition during the great depression. By the 1950s, television and automobiles threatened to bring daily physical activity to a near standstill. Diabetes and heart disease became leading causes of death. People had effectively innovated themselves into the most slothful lifestyle experienced by man. In 1951, decades before health clubs were commonplace, Jack LaLanne began teaching strength training routines for men and women on his television show. Since that time aerobics, weight lifting, weight training, running, and other similar conventional exercise forms evolved, and gymnasiums and fitness centers became popular. However, walking is arguably today’s most popular fitness activity — five times as popular as jogging. The Scriptures use the metaphor of walking to illustrate the principle of following after God: “When Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1). Perhaps the best known Scriptural example of this metaphor is in the psalms: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). The Narrow Way While Christians may physically walk for exercise, the Scriptures portray a more important walk: the journey in the narrow way of sacrifice as part of the life of a new creature: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Although it is perilous at times, this walk brings more pleasure than any walk for physical exercise ever can (Psalm 138:7). Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and others walked with God. Yet since they did so prior to the death of Jesus as a ransom sacrifice, they could not receive the baptism of the spirit and walk in the same narrow way as we do today. These Old Testament saints will, however, receive the reward of perfect human life on earth when the kingdom is inaugurated (Hebrews 11:39, 40). The Jewish nation was called to walk with God, but they did not always do so: “Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him” (Deuteronomy 13:4). When the nation stopped walking with God, it was punished (Deuteronomy 28:15). Jesus’ disciples and others in the early church were the first to receive the holy spirit and to walk in the narrow way: “Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3,4). Those who receive the holy spirit and give up their right to future earthly life become alive in Christ. They have consecrated their lives to serve their heavenly Father, to be obedient to his commandments, his statutes, his ordinances, and the laws of love (Romans 12:1,2). The opportunity to walk in this narrow way during the present Gospel age is limited to those few who are willing to accept the leadership of Jesus and walk the same path he did, the path of sacrifice and suffering that leads to death: “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). John said Christians are not to love the things of the world (1 John 2:15,16). Their thoughts and actions must be focused on God and Jesus. They must look to the Scriptures for direction to guide their walk in a world of darkness: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Walking by faith. We are told that faith is the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Those writing about faith describe it in terms of trust and confidence, the assurance that what is said is true. In the days of the prophets, God communicated with his followers through dreams, visions, and visitations by angels (Hebrews 1:1). In the case of Israel, God led them through the wilderness visibly with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). God also communicated through his agents such as Moses (Exodus 33:11). Abraham demonstrated a strong faith which rested on God alone. He was fully assured that God would fulfill his word: “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4:20,21). God has made faith a condition for blessing Christians today: “For we walk by faith, and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Christians must learn to trust God when they cannot see him; they must follow even when they cannot see where he is leading them. They must press forward using all their energy: “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13,14). God’s promise should inspire everyone: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). So we walk hand in hand with our Lord. Walking in the spirit. “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5, ASV). Walking in the spirit means having the spirit of God dwelling within, being led by the spirit to put away fleshly appetites and preferences that are contrary to the Christianwalk (Romans 8:13). In proportion as a Christian yields to worldly desires, the new nature declines. When the spirit of God dwells within, one cannot be in accord with the fallen fleshly nature. Yielding to the spirit of God enables a more active spiritual life in the service of the Lord: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law” (Galatians 5:16-18). Paul described the fruit of the spirit as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). Walking in love. God gave his only begotten son because of his love for all (John 3:16). As the spirit of love was manifested in Jesus, it should be demonstrated in his followers also. “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and sacrifice for a sweetsmelling savor” (Ephesians 5:1,2). Power, knowledge, and sacrifice all must be superseded by love (1 Corinthians 13). Love must be developed as the foundation of our Christian walk. First, there is a recognition that love is a divine requirement and it becomes a duty. As one progresses, this duty changes to a deep appreciation of what God has done. Next comes a love that overlooks the faults and blemishes of other Christians. Finally comes a love that not only honors God and other Christians, but one that includes even enemies. This is the love that Jesus demonstrated when he died for all of mankind (1 Timothy 2:6). Walking as Christ walked. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6). To abide means to live in a relationship. Following in Jesus’ footsteps as new creatures and maintaining this relationship means walking with a new mind and new heart. Thoughts, words, and actions must show love for what is good and hate for what is evil (Luke 6:45; Romans 12:9). Jesus walked at all times in harmony with the divine word and in harmony with the will of the Father. Whoever walks as Jesus walked does so in harmony with him: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6,7). In place of “so walk ye in him” the RSV and NIV both read “to live in him.” Paul admonished his hearers to present their bodies “a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1). To do this requires a full and complete consecration. To walk as Jesus walked means to receive his message fully, to appreciate his love and all that he has done, and to follow his example. Walking in truth. “Teach me thy way O LORD that I may walk in thy truth” (Psalm 86:11). The Bible outlines God’s plan for all mankind, but only a few whose eyes and ears of understanding have been opened appreciate that plan. This appreciation comes through the power of the holy spirit given through Jesus: “The eyes of our hearts have been enlightened to the hope to which he has called us” (Ephesians 1:18, RSV. The word of God is the source of all true knowledge. The Christian is to study and be built up in our most holy faith by applying that truth to his character and walk of life (Jude 20). John, referring to his brethren, wrote: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4). Walking in the light. Christians cannot walk in darkness and stay on the right path. “The message ... we have heard of him, and declare unto you, [is] that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7). After the fall of Adam, the whole world walked in darkness until the true light, Jesus, came into the world. Jesus brought the light that is of God. This light is only seen by his faithful followers at this time, because only through the enlightening of God’s holy spirit do they recognize the light in God’s word. In the resurrection age, the church will help shed forth that light for the blessing of all mankind. This light will remove the present darkness and cause the knowledge of the glory of God to fill the whole world (Habakkuk 2:14). What a blessing! “If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him” (John 11:9,10). Walking worthy. Christians are told to walk worthy, appropriately, of their vocation (Ephesians 4:1). They are called to divine service. No earthly calling should be permitted to hinder this service: “[We] do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9, 10). All Christians are to be good examples of those who follow Christ. As ambassadors of Christ, Christians have an awesome responsibility. Each must prove worthy to share the throne with the glorified Jesus and to share in the joy of bringing blessings to all (1 Thessalonians 2:12). Walking circumspectly. “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15,16). Circumspectly means “watchfully, cautiously, prudently.” The NIV translation reads “be careful how you live.” Hearts and minds must be centered upon God and Jesus, because thoughts, words, and actions reflect what is in the heart. Before Christians can enter the heavenly courts, they must be refined, purified, elevated, and ennobled. To reach the purity God requires, the truth must come into our hearts and minds, and become the guide of our thoughts, words, and our path of life. God calls upon his people to walk with him. Let each of us put our hands in his hand and walk with him; he is the only one who can keep us from falling and bring us into the character likeness of Jesus. |