Walk Don't Run

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

Galatians 5:16-18  
 

It was Henry Ford who once said, “Those who walk with God, always reach their destination.” Most new believers are taught the importance of repentance with regard to sin. To repent is to turn from sin, and to go in the opposite direction. But thats only half the truth as repentance is more than just turning from sin but also includes turning to God. In other words the success of repentance isn’t so much what we seek to get away from but rather who we seek to draw close to. Repentance might best be described as turning from self to God, from our way of thinking to God’s way, from pleasing ourselves to pleasing God.

Have you ever herd the expression, “If I only knew then what I knew now.” I imagine that if we could speak with the children of Israel as they were being led away into captivity, first by the Assyrians and then the Babylonians, I believe the quote I read just this past week would be on the tip of their lips as both a warning and a exhortation to us,
 
“Sin will take you further than you want to go…
Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay…
Sin will cost you more than you want to pay…”
 

We must not forget today, loved one, that sin is deadly. James 1:13-15 makes the point, “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

Don’t buy into the lie that sin doesn’t hurt you or anyone else or even if sin does in fact hurt someone it only hurts the one who commits it. The Bible is clear that sin is deadly and it seeks to take the life of each person it touches. Just as important to know sin spreads as quick as wild fire the Bible teaches us, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-- (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.” (Romans 5:12-14).

Just as well we cant forget that sin is bondage not freedom. The Bible tells us that many who claim liberty with regard to their lifestyle choices make that claim because of personal vice. In other words many who claim that their questionable behavior or indulgences are a liberty given to them by God say such things because they lack self control and are actually in bondage to the very behavior they claim to enjoy as a freedom. As pastor Greg Laurie has so well stated, “If you toy with sin, sin will toy with you.”

Running from sin is like running a marathon, eventually you will grow tired and hit the wall as it were. Better than running away is walking with God. Galatians 5:16 says it best, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” The luster of sin diminishes as we walk with God and enjoy His presence. More satisfying the longings of our flesh is the joy we sense as we glorify the Lord by using our gifts to minister to others as the apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:7, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” Sin looses its grip as we seek to please the Lord. 2 Timothy 2:4 serves as a great reminder that when we turn from sin and turn to God our focus changes as do our motives, “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

The Christian life wasn’t meant to be a marathon that wears us out nor a sprint that zaps every ounce of energy we possess. The Christian life is a walk, a relationship with the God of heaven that was meant to be experienced and enjoyed day by day. Consider the words of the psalmist today. Psalm 73:23-25 describes in a nut shell the understanding and the impact a walk with God has upon our lives, “Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.” Remember, the destination is secure so enjoy the journey! Walk with God don’t run.


“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?”

Micah 6:8

I LOVE YOU!