“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:15). The new life in Christ is often called a “walk” in Scripture (Ro. 6:4; 13:13; 1 Co. 7:17; 2 Co. 6:16; Ga. 5:18; Eph. 2:10; 4:1; 5:8; Php. 3:17; Col. 1:10; 2:6; 4:5; 1 Th. 2:12; 4:1, 12; 1 Jo. 1:7; 2:6; 2 Jo. 1:6). This is a powerful metaphor with manifold lessons.
Walking speaks of action. For those redeemed by free grace, there is a life to live; there are holy works to be done; there is a perfect will of God to be proven; there are gifts to be exercised; there is a gospel to be preached; there are churches to be built. Let’s rise up and walk!
Walking speaks of forward movement. We are to be moving forward in the will of God, not going backwards. We are to keep our faces turned toward Christ and His business, not toward the old life or toward this fallen world. Demas failed to keep walking in the right direction (2 Ti. 4:10).
Walking speaks of gradual, incremental movement. The victorious Christian life is not leaping and bounding like a kangaroo. It is a step by step affair, living for Christ day by day, hour by hour, dealing with “the body of this death”; putting on the new man and putting off the old man, facing whatever trials God ordains for me by faith. We want to grow by leaps, but the reality is that we grow by steps, so we must be patient and persistent. Christian growth happens incrementally, by moving in the right direction, the ever stronger, ever more biblical, ever more obedient, ever more holy direction. Worldliness and backsliding also happen incrementally, step by step, by moving in the wrong direction. Worldliness happens so gradually that it is easy to deceive oneself that nothing substantial is happening. Just a little change in music “taste,” a little change in dress “style,” a little change in reading habits, a little change in internet viewing and social media use, a little change in associations, a little change in attitude toward biblical separation and a pilgrim lifestyle. What can be harmful about a few little steps?
Walking speaks of having one’s feet on the ground. Walking is not flying. We would prefer to have some sort of “second blessing” experience and fly above the troubles of this present life, the struggles with the old man, the trials of our faith, the wrestlings with the powers of darkness. But that is not God’s will. It is His will that we walk through these things, and He has promised to walk with us.
(Friday Church News Notes, December 24, 2021, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)