“But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk just as he walked.”
1 John 2:5-6 (NRSV)
In the first letter of John we are reminded of this promise of eternal life by abiding in love for Christ by walking in His light. John shares that the ways of the world will eventually fade away but that those who do the will of God live forever. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 86:11, “teach me your way O’Lord and I will walk in your truth.”
Arthur Blessitt’s name may or may not be familiar to you. He holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous pilgrimage/walk. As of this year he has walked over 43,000 miles in over 324 countries over the span of 53 years while carrying a cross on his shoulder that he made in 1968. This 12-foot 45-pound cross has taken him to minister in places we could only dream about. Arthur is a fascinating individual and you can read more about him at blessitt.com.
We do not have the complete historical perspective of exactly how much walking Jesus actually did. It has been estimated that he walked over 3,125 miles during his 3-year public ministry and journey throughout the region of Galilee. There were no concrete paved trails back then, just rugged and dangerous paths.
The divine Jesus came to this earth in human form to show us a better way. Jesus believed in the ministry of walking towards those in need, as told in countless gospel stories. He walked in faith that God his Father had a plan for his resurrection. He walked in the Spirit knowing the Holy Spirit was with him as he faced temptation in the desert for 40 days. “Then Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit returned to Galilee.” Luke 4:14 (NRSV)
Jesus’ sole mission was to deliver the good news of redemption and salvation to all who “believed.” He brought hope to the poor, freedom to the captives and sight to the blind. Over 700 years before Christ was born, Isaiah the prophet foretold about the coming Messiah who would bring the good news of peace and salvation.
“How beautiful on the mountain are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)
Paul shares with us in 2 Corinthians that we are to walk by faith. This unseen faith gives us a glimpse into the eternal. He reminds us that once we choose to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit guarantees a place for us.
“So, we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5: 6-7 (NRSV)
Later in Galatians, Paul reminds us why we should walk by the Spirit and not by our own will. The Holy Spirit gives us freedom to walk confidently knowing we have an advocate.
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)
This walk with Christ is not an easy trek. It was never meant to be. We praise and honor the Christian saints who marched ahead of us and blazed the trail by setting the cadence and the pace. Will you take the baton for your leg of this journey?
Your walk is not all about you. Your walk is for your family, your children, your church, your friends, and your God. Your walk takes you to places where you are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. With each step you are forever listening for the whisper of the Holy Spirit guiding you to be the influence, the presence, the difference for that moment of ministry.
We are not alone in this journey. Isaiah shares words of reassurance that God does know you by name and he will be with you every step of the way.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Isaiah 43: 1-2 (NRSV)
Paul reminds us that God sent Jesus to bear our inequities. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, our chains of living under the law are broken and by abiding in his love we share in the gift of the advocate, the Holy Spirit. By this gift we are to walk upright, not in a prideful way, but in a confident way knowing where this path leads and whose we are.
“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Romans 8:3-4 (NRSV)
To truly follow Jesus and walk in his footsteps requires much from each of us. It starts with denying the things that keep us apart from his love for us. It means to give our whole life to God each day. When we do this, we open our hearts and minds to receive God’s will for us.
“Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (NRSV)
It is believed that the human Jesus walked his last half mile on the Via Dolorosa bearing the burden of the world under the crushing weight of the cross beam as he approached Calvary. The divine Jesus knew all along what he was about to face, yet he steadfastly continued his final walk to bear our sins. Along the way, just outside the city gate, Simon of Cyrene pressed into service helped Jesus Christ to finish carrying the cross beam up the hill on Calvary. An insignificant moment or a lasting lesson for us all. You decide.
How is your walk with Christ? Are you ready to carry the cross for Christ?
Are you counting on Christ? Christ is counting on you!
Peace be with you,
Kenny Shortsleeve, Lay Leader