Walking With God
I am not what you would call a serious hiker. But I truly enjoy walking on mountainous forest trails – especially when my wife is with me. I don’t think I have ever been on a hike that I didn’t enjoy. And quite honestly, the more difficult the hike, the more I tend to enjoy it (I really like the challenge). On a recent hike, I started thinking about some different factors that impact how satisfying these walks are for me. Here are a few of the things I came up with.
The Conditions – Humidity and Temperature
- Since I typically go on relatively short hikes that are part of a daily outing, overall the weather doesn’t play a huge role in my hiking experience. I can and do avoid extreme weather. However, when the temperature and humidity are high, there is a significant impact to my comfort and endurance.
The Course – Hills and Terrain
- Wooded mountain trails are the best! I enjoy the scenery and the challenge of making it up the next hill. I have never been rock climbing and I avoid extremely difficult or dangerous trails, but I love mountain views and the beauty of rugged trails.
The Commitment – Horsepower and Time
- How hard am I willing to work to get up the next hill? How many hours am I willing to stay out on the trail? Meeting a goal, overcoming a physical challenge, enjoying the health and ability I still have to enjoy the outdoors – these are very satisfying to me.
The Company – Her
- Spending time with my wife is one of the most important and pleasurable things I do. When we are out on a hike together, whether we are talking or being quiet, holding hands or walking one behind the other, her presence and companionship are comforting, fun and extremely enjoyable.
I am very serious about being a follower of Jesus Christ. But I don’t enjoy seeing the devastation to individuals and families caused by the Godlessness of this sin ridden world – especially when I consider family and friends that don’t know Christ as Savior. I don’t think there has been a day since I surrendered to Christ that my heart hasn’t broken for those who have rejected or who haven’t heard the good news about Jesus. And quite honestly, the more horrendous the sin I hear about and see, the more it weighs on me (I really hate the wiles of Satan, the ways of the world and the weaknesses of the flesh). Often, as I walk with God, I think about some of the different factors that impact how challenging this walk is for me. Here are a few of the things the Bible has to say about this.
The Conditions – Hatred and Temptation
- John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
- Simply put, Christians don’t fit in. Those who don’t know and accept the truth hate it. It is tempting for followers of Jesus to try to fit in. It is an important and significant challenge to faithfully represent Christ in all settings and situations.
The Course – Hindrances and Tribulations
- Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
- There is always something or someone trying to pull us away from Christ – this is not an easy path. It would be easy to fall; but as challenging as it can be, I am indebted to God for my eternal life and I long to live it in a way that brings Him glory and draws others closer to Him.
The Commitment – Honor and Tenacity
- Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- A great thing about the Bible are the true stories it tells about God honoring men and women over the centuries. With sin and Satan crouching at the door, living a Godly life takes commitment and endurance that we just don’t have on our own. But with God, in Christ, all things are possible.
The Company – Him
- John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
- As a born again child of God, He lives in us! His presence transforms us. He teaches, comforts, challenges and empowers us. With and through Him, we are up to any challenge. Our relationship with God is the single most important part of our lives (now and in eternity).
Hiking is a nice hobby. Walking with God defines who we are, what we do and why we do it.
- Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
- How we walk – righteously, mercifully and humbly.
- We are to walk with God!
- Colossians 1:10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
- The results of our walk – we please Him, we work for Him and we grow in our knowledge of Him.
- We are to walk like Christ.
My wife and I can and do decide when and where we will hike. And once we are on the trail, we make decisions about how far to go, which path to take and how long we will keep going. We are focused on our personal goals when we hike (exercise, enjoyment, relaxation, etc.). But walking with God is about obedience to Him and His desires. Regardless of the challenges encountered on the trails He places us on, each person must make personal decisions about trusting Him, submitting to Him and obeying Him. He has given us His Word, His Holy Spirit and His church – just what we need to overcome any obstacle and achieve His purposes.
Prayer
Holy Father, please enable and encourage those who love You to walk with You and for You. Please use Your children to share Your truth with those who don’t know You. Please draw many more to walk with You – getting them off the path to Hell and on the path to Heaven. I praise You and pray to You in the name of Christ my Lord and Savior. Amen.
