Walking with God | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 26, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 55.

Walking with God.

It is said of one of old, "And Enoch walked with God; and he was not; for God took him." Gen. 5:24. He was translated without seeing death. Heb. 11:5. Again we read: "Noah was a righteous man, and blameless in his generations; Noah walked with God." Gen. 6:9, Revised Version, margin. And thus the prophet has said of the Lord: "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:8.

The Whole Duty of Man.

This comprehends the whole duty of man. It is all summed up in the latter expression—"to walk humbly with thy God." The marginal reading is, "to humble thyself to walk with thy God." To "do justly" is to do that which is just or right. "To love mercy" is to have that disposition which will treat those who offend us better than they deserve; for this is what mercy means. To love mercy is to have mercy and to exercise mercy toward all those who may do us wrong. But all this is summed up in walking with God. For, mark, it does not say, God walking with us; that would imply that the road in which we walked was our way. But we walk with God in God’s way, and "his way is perfect." Ps. 18:30. And this is repeated over and over again in his word. Walking in his way is, therefore, walking in the perfect way. Nothing more can be done; nothing more is required. "For the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them." Hos. 14:9. "The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." Ps. 145:17. Surely then we might expect, as the Lord has declared, "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." Prov. 12:28.

The Path of God’s Commandments.

This way in which we walk with God is the pathway of God’s commandments. This is evident from the fact that God’s "commandments are righteousness" (Ps. 119:176); the expression of his own character (Isa. 51:6, 7); "the path of life" (Ps. 16:11; 119:35). This holy law, this way of the Lord, is "perfect," "sure," "right," "pure," "clean," yea, "true and righteous altogether." Ps. 19:7–9. It is the word of God’s lips, by which we are kept "from the paths of the destroyer." Ps. 17:4. It is the sum of all duty. Eccl. 12:13. When the young man asked our Lord what he should do that he might have eternal life, he replied, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt. 19:16, 17. And therefore the Psalmist says: "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord." "They also do no iniquity; they walk in his ways." "I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies." "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart." "Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes." "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments." "Order my steps in thy word." Ps. 119:1, 3, 14, 32, 35, 133, etc.

How We May Enter This Path.

How may we enter this holy, delightful path? We cannot do it of ourselves. Having fallen from this way of holiness, sinful man cannot of himself lift himself to that exalted plane. There is but one way, and that way is through Christ. Jesus says, "I am the door." "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus kept God’s holy law. He was not only righteous, but righteousness, even the righteousness of all who by faith receive him; for "this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness." Jer. 23:6. That righteousness, the same that is in the holy law, is given freely by God’s grace to those who believe. "But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed [testified to] by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction." Rom. 3:21, 22, Revised Version. Christ is the way; through him all—anyone—may enter the path of life.

Humility.

But to receive Christ, we must renounce self. "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33. There is no distinction here. God will give righteousness and life to all without distinction; but he requires absolute surrender of all that we have without distinction. It matters not what our financial standing is in the world; it makes no difference what our education is, our social status, our moral influence, what our friends may think of us, or how the world may estimate us,—all must be renounced, given up, surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ, who bought us. This is hard to do. It requires humility—a low opinion of one’s self—to yield up all,—the deeds over which one has boasted, the "virtues" which his friends have lauded, the wealth he has earned, "the moral character" he has built, all worldly ambitions and pleasures and passions. But this must be done—“to humble thyself to walk with thy God.”

Looking to Christ.

The easier way to be humble is to look upon Christ,—his holiness, greatness, majesty, glory, wealth, love. How ineffably glorious he is; how mean and insignificant are we! It is not hard to regard self as lowly while looking upon him. Isaiah caught a sight of his glory, and cried, "Woe is me; for I am undone." Daniel looked upon him, and all his "comeliness was turned" "into corruption." Paul saw him, weighed all his wealth of nation, reputation, and character, and cried: "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." This is true humility. God takes such an one to himself, places his feet upon the rock; and establishes his goings. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isa. 57:15.

Walking with God.

What a blessed place! What choice companionship! Every cross is made a blessing, every burden a strength, every cloud reveals the covenant token, every trial reveals his presence. What matters the loss of earthly reputation, wealth, power, companionship? We have all in him. His story never grows old. His words of life ever cheer and encourage. His hand, outstretched to help our faltering feet, never wearies. Fountains of life spring up beside the desert path. The shadow of the great rock stretches athwart the weary way. Its cleft side hides us from the raging storm. At the end of the path is life, immortality, abundance of peace, and pleasure forever more. Blessed way.

Who would not walk therein? Blessed Comrade, Helper, Life Giver. Who would not choose him?