Walking with Jesus

I loved taking walks growing up. If I was bored or just wanted to go outside, I would get up and go take a walk. Mamaw and Papaw lived next door, so sometimes I’d walk to their house on a man-made path in the woods that separated our home with theirs. Sometimes I’d trek down our bumpy, gravel driveway under the canopy of trees, or take a stroll in the woods behind our house, smelling the earth and pine needles beneath my feet. Sometimes I’d have one of my sisters or cousins with me, but many times it was just me. Solitude. I was spending time with the Creator before I truly knew Who He was.

I took a walk this morning through our neighborhood, something that has become somewhat of a routine over the last year. My walks look a lot different now than when I was younger, with cars dashing by or neighbors walking their dogs. Sometimes I’ll greet someone sitting on their porch or working in their yard. Though the place is different, the Creator remains the same. Though I am different, the Creator remains the same. What’s so sweet is that today I’m aware of Jesus with me and around me. He’s always with me, and always has been.

In Genesis 5, the writer (generally believed to be Moses) gives us a genealogy of Adam’s descendants through Noah. You read the names and learn how many years they lived. In verse 21, we come across a man named Enoch and learn he didn’t just live for a time, but he walked with God in that time.

“After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.”
Genesis 5:22 NIV

Many times in the Bible the word “walk” refers to living. Enoch lived faithfully with God. To live faithfully with God is to live steadily, confidently, sincerely, with allegiance to, devoted to, trusting in, submitting to, glorifying the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Maybe for Enoch this looked like:

Him being committed to spending regular time with his Creator
Him loving his wife by word and deed
Him caring for his children, wife, and self in ways pleasing to God
Him completing his work carefully and without grumbling.

But I think mostly this looked like Enoch trusting in God with all things and fully knowing God was with him. Whether good day or bad day, I believe he knew His Lord was in control of all things. I don’t think Enoch felt panicked or anxious because his heart and mind knew God was with him. Immanuel.

This passage of scripture clearly shows that Enoch was different. He lived in a way that set him apart from the others throughout those generations. He didn’t just live, he lived faithfully with God. He was not just aware of God’s presence, but he was in line with Him. They were together. They were on the same page, on the same team. They were in sync. He lived a life faithful to God enough that Moses found it was worth noting.

My response to this passage is this: How can I be like Enoch? How can I live faithfully with God? Well, I can walk, or live, by faith in Christ rather than in fear of unknowns. I can preach the gospel to my heart, knowing God’s in control. I can live committed to following Jesus at any and all costs because I know He is worth it. I can clear my life of anything preventing me from walking faithfully with Him. I can surrender all things I’ve got a tight grip on over to the One they belong to.

Wherever He leads me in my lifetime, whichever paths He takes me down, whether through the wooded areas or the wide open spaces, I can know He’s not going to leave or change and that He’s always good and perfect and excellent and loving and holy. When my mind and heart know these things, I know I’ll be walking with Him. He will take care of the rest.

“He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Psalm 23:3

What is keeping you from walking faithfully with God? Are there things, habits, sins in your life you need to address with the Lord so you can walk with Him? Know you can confess those to God and repent of (turn away from) those things and He will give you the power to overcome what’s weighing you down.