Christianity is a walk with God. We are temporarily here. We have no certain abode on this side of eternity. We are strangers or pilgrims walking from here to yonder land that is fair beyond description. There are rules in this walk. Yes, how do we walk with God from our temporary abode here to His eternal abode there to be thereafter with Him eternally? We neither can set the rules nor can alter or reset them. One of His admonition sums the pilgrim’s walk. It came up in the Old Testament; and revisited in the New. It is for both ‘old’ and ‘new’ believers’; all that were pilgrims, all that are now and all that shall be.
“For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy” – Leviticus 11:44.
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” – 1 Peter 1:13-17
We have array of men in Scripture who walked with God thus, men who walked with Him on the heavenly path; which things were written for our examples, and Church history tells us of others after them who followed their holy faith. Of both we shall now write.
Telling it with a Poem by Self
Abraham was third of men that reared tall before God.
Ere he came, Enoch, Noah had stood distinct with the Lord:
These both walked with God, serving their generations so;
Forebears that Abraham, their progeny, could look to.
The fear of God, obedience and life of righteousness,
Love for God, His people and service in holiness:
O the graces summing up the lives this threesome lived!
A life-walk we, like them of same passion, must here live.
And of Abraham, father of our most precious faith;
This charge comes from God to all in the heavenly path:
“Hearken to Me, ye that follow after righteousness,
Ye that seek the Lord: look to the rock whence ye are hewn;
The hole of the pit whence ye are dug: pore and ensue!
Look to Abraham your father; Sarah, that bare you,
For I called him alone, and bless’d him, and increased him”.
With sundry kings, prophets, priests and folks obeying Him!
While Isaac’s obedience points to the Cross and the Lord,
Jacob wrestled and prevailed with the most holy God.
Still, Joseph’s Godly fear, saintly living: unalloyed!
Upright! Perfect! Eschews evil! Job’s portrait by God!
Moses: God’s Word declares the meekest human on earth;
And of David, the chief Psalmist, man after God’s heart;
Yet, of John the Baptist: Friend of the Bridegroom Himself!
What testimonials, examples for all that God serve!
Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, David et al:
O the multitudes that took to the charge after all;
Many that looked unto the rock from whence they were hewn.
Good chips off the old block, they sort after God’s Heaven,
They looked unto Abraham and like him walked with God;
Though under law they feared God, lived holy for the Lord.
Then, John prepared The Way’s way, O great hope inception!
Came therefore the Eternal Rock of our Salvation!
He is God’s Grace that bringeth salvation to all men,
A greater than Abraham from Whom we are all hewn.
God’s Image, Chaste Guide in our walk with the Lord of hosts!
This grace teaches denying ungodliness, worldly lust,
Teaches sobriety, righteousness, godliness likewise;
With no charge to serve our generation otherwise!
Neither lowers the Message can we, nor change the Charge.
But heed these in this world, so be heavenly enlarged.
Still, Grace us charges to look to Christ our Exemplar;
Jesus Christ whom Abraham et al did sought after,
Being Author and Finisher of our most precious faith!
Like John, ‘repentance’ from sin He firmly started with;
And charged seeking the Kingdom, its righteousness always,
Plus clearly teaching between the broad and narrow ways,
Yet, with love counseling walkers with God which to tread!
From His Cross whence all graces flow beckons Christ that Bled.
So, Peter and co left all to obey His bidding,
Hazarded lives Paul and co led scared by no burden:
Many pressing to the price of the calling so high;
Folks first called Christians, Christ-like at Antioch Church, and why?
Not for great possession of the unrighteous mammon,
But for Godly fear, obedience and consecration,
And love for God, His people and holy walk with Him.
For thus they all served their generation and now home.
From Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of yore
To Watchman Nee and Oswald J. Smith of yesterday,
The many that holily walked with our Holy God:
Of Wycliffe, Huss, Tyndale, Calvin, Luther, Knox et al,
Of the Bunyans, Baxters, Wesleys, Spurgeons and the rest;
Men that walked with God with holy lives, working their best,
Leaving imprints of a walk with God as safe bequest,
But gone to that sublime land to get their comfort best!
“O walkers with God”, all the past saints us face up to,
“How serves you your age, to whom do you look unto?”
And this query comes from their lofty, sublime height yon;
These who have trod this path before us and heaven gone!
They, the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles and saints of old,
Beckoning us to swiftly come join their glorious fold;
Yet, a call, to discerning ears, unto steadfastness,
Same unchanging old charge whilst here they trod: holiness!
The Voice of Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon admonished about the Christian walk this way in his comment on 1John 2: 6: “So to walk even as He walked”:
“Why should Christians imitate Christ? They should do it for their own sakes. If they desire to be in a healthy state of soul–if they would escape the sickness of sin, and enjoy the vigour of growing grace, let Jesus be their model. For their own happiness’ sake, if they would drink wine on the lees, well refined; if they would enjoy holy and happy communion with Jesus; if they would be lifted up above the cares and troubles of this world, let them walk even as He walked. There is nothing which can so assist you to walk towards heaven with good speed, as wearing the image of Jesus on your heart to rule all its motions. It is when, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you are enabled to walk with Jesus in His very footsteps, that you are most happy, and most known to be the sons of God. Peter afar off is both unsafe and uneasy. Next, for religion’s sake, strive to be like Jesus. Ah! poor religion, thou hast been sorely shot at by cruel foes, but thou hast not been wounded one-half so dangerously by thy foes as by thy friends. Who made those wounds in the fair hand of Godliness? The professor who used the dagger of hypocrisy. The man who with pretences, enters the fold, being nought but a wolf in sheep’s clothing, worries the flock more than the lion outside. There is no weapon half so deadly as a Judas-kiss. Inconsistent professors injure the gospel more than the sneering critic or the infidel. But, especially for Christ’s own sake, imitate His example. Christian, lovest thou thy Saviour? Is His name precious to thee? Is His cause dear to thee? Wouldst thou see the kingdoms of the world become His? Is it thy desire that He should be glorified? Art thou longing that souls should be won to Him? If so, imitate Jesus; be an “epistle of Christ, known and read of all men.”
