Recently reading through first John, I was struck by a thought which took my mind way back into the Old Testament. When we read through the first ten generations from Adam to Noah (Genesis 5), we come across the one who lived the least number of years, but whose life was marked by a notable description. We read. . .
“(21) When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. (22) Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. (23) Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. (24) Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:21-24 ESV)
Enoch’s life was marked by walking with God. And as he walked on with God, he is not noted as having died, but God took Him. His walking with God in this realm for 365 years simply led to walking into eternity with His Maker. It is a picture of a life in agreement with God.
In a message from God through His prophet Amos we read. . .
“(3) Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?” (Amos 3:3 ESV)
Unfortunately for Israel, at the time, this was not the picture of their relationship with God. They were not walking with God and therefore not in agreement with Him.
To say to someone, “Let’s take a walk together. You go east and I’ll go west.”, would be agreeing to walk, but not together. So, what marks our walking agreement in life? Are we merely meandering through life or are we walking with purpose? And with whom have we agreed to walk and to where is it leading?
In noting Jesus Who was offered up as the propitiation for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2), John stated. . .
“(3) And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.(4) Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (5) but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: (6) whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:3-6 ESV)
Remembering we were created in the Divine likeness (Genesis 1:26-27) and in Christ are able to experience the renewal of the Divine likeness (2 Peter 1:3-4), are we presently walking in that likeness? Agreeing with God that our sins required atonement, and agreeing with God’s plan that the blood of the Son is sufficient to cleanse us of all unrighteousness as we confess our sins (1 John 1:7-8), have we surrendered to the likeness of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection to then walk on in the new life (Romans 6:3-4) as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) in agreement with Him? Only in agreeing to walk with Him can we be assured of the destination to where He is ultimately leading us. May our life be truly marked by walking with God so that it is where He is that we will ultimately be taken!
Have a great day WALKING IN AGREEMENT WITH THE LORD!
Carl
