The older we get the more everyday things become a challenge. At a certain age, even walking gets harder. The sale of walkers, walking sticks, and wheelchairs has become a multimillion-dollar business. How are you walking these days? You might be young enough that you take walking for granted. Just wait. If you live long enough that will change.
While the question of how we walk physically is not very significant in the overall scheme of things, spiritually speaking, it is a vital one. To maintain our fellowship with God now, and go to heaven after a while, we must walk the right way. The Bible has a lot to say about how we should walk. Let’s consider this for a few minutes.
We must walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). When we consider the teaching of Paul in Romans 10:17, that is, that faith comes by hearing the Word of God, we learn that walking by faith means walking according to God’s Word. So, how are you walking these days? Too many times those who call themselves Christians ignore the significance of being obedient to God. The Bible, however, is clear—obedience is a vital part of our faithfulness to God, and, therefore, essential to securing a home in heaven.
Hebrews 5:8–9 (ESV)
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
If we are not living an obedient life, we are not walking by faith, and we are out of step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).
We must also walk in the light (1 John 1:7). This is the only way we can maintain fellowship with God. God is so morally perfect that He cannot have fellowship with sin. John reminds us that He is light and that in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). To walk in the light is to live righteously, doing our best to refrain from sinning. While we all sin from time to time (vers. 8-10), we must not make a practice of it (1 John 3:4-10). Let us all do our best to fight off the temptation to sin. Our determination, every day, should be not to sin (1 John 2:1), but when we do, we must repent and pray to God for forgiveness at the first opportunity.
There are many other ways that the Bible tells us to walk, but let me mention just one more. We must walk in love (Ephesians 5:2). Love is a characteristic that we must possess. Without it, we are not right with God (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). To love is to always act in the best interest of others. It is not a mere inner emotion that we feel, it is a predetermined and reasoned action. This is why it is commanded by God. He knows we can do it, and He demands it because He first loved us. Do you love your brethren in Christ? If so, there is nothing to brag about, it is commanded by God. Do you love your neighbor? That’s good, it is what God commands (Luke 10:25-28). Do you love your enemies? You say, “now I know I can brag about that.” No, even that is commanded by God (Matthew 5:44). You see, this is all a part of walking in love. We love everyone because God has commanded us to do so.
How are you walking these days? Are you walking by faith or by sight? Are you walking in the light or in darkness? Are you walking in love or in bitterness toward your fellow man? Remember, from a spiritual standpoint, how you walk will determine where you spend eternity.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.