Walk Like . . . ?
Some of us remember the 1963 song by the Four Seasons. A young man is basically told to ‘grow up’ and “Walk Like A Man”. Much has been said in song as to how one should walk. There’s 1968’s Elvis song ‘Devil In Disguise’ with the lyrics “Walk like an angel”. Then there’s “Walk Like An Egyptian” by the Bangles, “Walk Like a Dinosaur” by Was (Not Was)?, “Walk Like A Camel” by Storybots, “Walk Like A Duck” by Kurious, “Walk Like Shawn” (whoever that is) by Funnel Vision, And even “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith. I am sure there are more, and I won’t attempt to list any of the lyrics of these, as many of the lyrics are unmentionable, wicked, and surely not repeatable.
The point is, there is a lot of advice from many sources as to how one should walk. The problem with all this advice is that it is all “opinion”. As we all know, opinions differ, and not all can be trusted. Why is it that so few look to the one source that can always be trusted? Psa. 32:10 provides an undeniable edict as the Holy Spirit had that penman write: Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Couple that with Psa. 84:12 and surely all should see that God’s instruction is the only advice that is safe to follow in any area. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. God had the prophet Jeremiah remind the people of Israel of this in the warnings He directed this prophet to give them in Jer. 10:23. O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
Why is it that so many heed so much direction from others? Is it that some care not what God has said? Can it be that the advice of man on this or any subject is simply a tool of Satan to lead people away from God? This could be the case. If Satan can convince you through influence, that you are walking your own way and it is a good way, why not advise others to do the same?
Again, we return to Words of Wisdom given to Israel to see that this might very well be what’s going on. In Jer. 6:16, we find the inspired Words provided for this weeping prophet. He lamented the fact that God’s own people had turned away from God. He warned them as directed by the Spirit. Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. The latter part of the verse shows their obstinance. But they said, We will not walk therein. When man today refuses to hear God through His Word, there is not any rest for that soul. When people are miserable, tormented in life, failing to realize peace, it is because they are NOT ‘walking’ like God would have them walk.
What does God say about how we are to walk? Since we all live in this, the final dispensation of time, we’ll see what He has said to man in His N.T. Word. Prior to this dispensation, (with the exception of the Law of God to Israel), God, per Acts 14:16 had allowed man “to walk in their own ways”. This all changed when God, through Christ established the church for which Christ died on the cross, after He had been buried, resurrected, and ascended back to the Father. We know that when the church began, Acts 2:41 tells us: Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Why were they baptized? Rom. 6:4 not only shows that their ‘baptism’ was a burial, it also shows how they were to then walk. 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.
Our lives may have once been as wicked as some of the Corinthians had been as listed in 1Cor. 6:9-10. They had been changed when they were baptized into Christ as verse 11 shows. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. In Rom. 13:13 the Spirit had Paul tell those brethren how to walk and how NOT to walk. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. This is only accomplished by following the direction of Gal. 5:16. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. To walk in the Spirit means to walk in accordance with the Word of God. This is because the Spirit brought the Word to man.
In Col. 1:10 the Spirit had Paul tell these brethren to walk and what to do as they walked. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; One is also to walk as Eph. 5:15 tells us. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, If we would be ‘wise’ we must follow the advise provided in Col 2:6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Christians are also told in Col. 4:5 to: Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Then in Phil. 3:16b. “. . . let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” As we do this, we must take those that are without the soul saving message of the gospel. If you are a Christian, how are you walking? Whose advice are you following? If we aren’t walking by the rule of God, we’re not walking according to His Word. Isn’t it about time that all walk as God directs? This is the only way we can obey Him and be pleasing to Him.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
