Hymn
Devotionals (2)
T |
he
concept of walking is used throughout the word of God. In short, it means to
walk with God by following His word. Enoch is a good example of how God is
pleased with those who walk with Him. We do not find very much information
about Enoch except for his family tree and his faith. However, what is said
about him is very important. “And Enoch walked
with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:24).
Was
God pleased with the way Enoch walked? Yes, because he walked in faith. In
later years, the author of the book of Hebrews included him in his “Hall of Faith” chapter. “By faith Enoch
was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had
taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5).
The
only way that anyone can please God today is to walk by faith. In fact, this
same Hebrew author declared in the following verse, “But without faith it is
impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and
that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
The
walk of faith is also a walk in the light of God. It all comes down to this, we
are either walking by faith in light,
or we are following Satan in darkness. When Jesus spoke of the narrow and wide ways, He was describing the
narrow way of light to heaven, and
the broad way of darkness to the
fires of hell (Matthew 7:13,14).
But someone may object, “I’m not a Christian, but I
try to live a fairly clean and decent life. Are you saying that I am walking on
the way of darkness to the fires of hell along with liar, rapist, and
murderers?” This is what Jesus is saying! He doesn’t mention a way that exists
between light and darkness.
Only
faithful Christians are walking in God’s light. And Christians, who stop
walking in God’s light, also choose the way of darkness. Only those who find
the way of light and life and stay on it will reach eternal life. The apostle
John promised the continual cleansing blood of Jesus, but only to those who are
walking in the light of God. “But
if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Thus, to lose the walk of light is to
take up the walk of darkness.
Therefore,
all should be Christians! How is this done? According to the teaching of God’s
word, it is accomplished by one becoming a penitent,
believer, who confesses Jesus to be the Christ, and is then baptized into Him (Galatians 3:26,27).
Also, this obedience must be followed by a faithful
Christian life! Paul wrote: “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the
Lord, so walk in Him,” (Colossians 2:6).
It
is not enough just to walk, but we must walk by following the Lord. Enoch did
not just walk, but in faith he walked with God! The hymn states, “And with
His loving hand, He leads the way.”
Remember, only Jesus is the way to truth, life, and the Father (John 14:6)
The
invitation of Jesus, both then and today is, “Follow
Me!” “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). The
Jews of His day wanted to continue following Abraham, Moses, and the law, but
God wanted only His Son to be followed (Mark 9:7). The same is true today!
The
world does not follow Jesus, and this is why Christians must not love the
world, nor the things that are in the world (1 John 2:15). How could we ever
say that we are following Jesus while walking in the darkness of the world? Jesus explains why this is true: “And
this is the condemnation, that the light
has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil” (John
3:19).
James
also verifies the fact that one cannot follow the world of darkness and still
follow God in these words: “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know
that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to
be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
When we follow Jesus, we become strong because He is always by our sides.
The
message of this hymn reminds us that the steps of faithful Christians will lead
to that eternal home. Only the
true God of heaven holds the key to open up the way to the Promised land—HEAVEN!
Each step we take as we live upon this earth, should remind Christians that we
are walking toward home.
I
can recall when growing up that we worked hard to grow corn and cotton. The
days found us plowing, cultivating, hoeing, and eventually harvesting. There
were times when we were almost too tired to make it from the field to the barn.
Then we would think about home where there would be food and rest, and this
would encourage us to continue walking even though we were tired.
The
Christian life has many difficulties, and sometimes-even persecutions. However,
the hymn reminds me that “each step I take just leads me closer home.”
When
Jesus left His apostles, He told them that He was going to leave to prepare for
them a place. Then He added, “that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). Surely these men found comfort in
knowing that each step they took was leading them closer to their eternal home
with Jesus.
One time a man was told by his doctor that he had only a few more days to live upon this earth. The man went to his mountain home that overlooked a beautiful stream of water with a background of towering mountains. He walked out on the porch and took in this beautiful view and said, “Mountains, in a few days I will never see you again.” And to the beautiful stream below he said, “And beautiful water, I will no longer be able to watch your stream move gracefully down the mountain. But don’t be concerned about me, because I’m going home to the God who made you! Are your steps leading you home? —BBBristow