“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Colossians 2:6).
Audio Sermon: Colossians 2:5-7
Churchmen think they can walk the fence between worldliness and holiness, but they forget that the devil is the builder of that imaginary deceitful fence, not God. It is constructed of temptations and sins coupled with the defense of mediocre Christianity. Two of the best known walkers upon this fabled fence were Judas and Demas.
The canons of your fallen society form the consensus of how people do walk rather than how they should walk. Cultural/nominal/social Christians rarely vigorously oppose the teachings of Scripture until people begin daily practicing the Scriptures. Biblical Christianity is offensive because its genesis is from another culture - heaven! Nonetheless, you cannot have Christ without His societal culture.
Enoch’s walk was a style of life practicing the presence of God (Gen. 5:24). This lifestyle requires your trust that God is the dwelling place of all generations from the eternal past until the eternity that shall never end (Ps. 90:1f.). You should be living as though the Council of the Trinity is seated, you are at the bar of justice before them and the books of your life and works are opened ( Dan. 7:10; Rev. 20:12-15).
God never walks out of bounds. He never walks out of the way of holiness. Those walking contrary to Him should expect Him to walk contrary to them.
Do you want to companion with the King? God says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Am. 3:3, KJV). All those communing with God listen for the soft voice of the Holy Spirit, whispering, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isa. 30:21). The manner of the Lord is a way quite separate from worldly principles, practices, professions and pursuits, for He says, “Though all the peoples walk each in the name of his god, as for us, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever” (Mic. 4:5).
How does God define this walk?
“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls” (Jer. 6:16).
“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Cor. 5:7).
“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16, 25).
“Walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of the mind… you lay aside the old self… and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph. 4:17, 22, 24).
But does a man have the vigor in himself to engage in this walk? No!
“The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places” (Hab. 3:19).
“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9).
“I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene - walk!” (Acts 3:6).
Thomas Boston wrote, “When God made man, his will, in respect of its intention, was directed towards God, as his chief end; in respect of its choice, it pointed towards that which God willed. When man unmade himself, his will was framed to the very reverse hereof: he made himself his chief end, and his own will his law. But when man is new made, in regeneration, grace rectifies this disorder in some measure, though not perfectly: because we are but renewed in part, while in this world.”
You must be of one mind with the Son of God rather than living as a mere son of Eve. God loved you before the foundation of the world and you are a son of eternity. You are an oak of righteousness amidst mere saplings. You are not pursuing the walk of the world because the love of the Father is in you ( Js. 4:4; I Jn. 2:15).
You are at peace with God, sharing in His purposes because you seek His glory. Your contentment comes from another world and your attitude in this life is a progressive maturation because you are hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). Your new birth, eternal exchange, repentance and reconciliation cultivate your resemblance to Christ in living character and saintly cadence.
Pray that your societal non-conformity and consistent disassociation with all encumbrances will encourage others “to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul” (I Pe. 2:11). Your free exercise of the Christian liberty of doing what you ought to do when you ought to do it is the hope for a culture holy to the Lord.
SOLI DEO GLORIA!