WALK IN IT

WALK IN IT

One great way to study the Bible is by theme. In fact, men are often tested for ordination by being asked to trace a theme through Scripture. I’ve coached men in this by telling them, “I want to hear the pages of Scripture turning as you answer the question.” Usually, this involves finding an early mention of a word or phrase in Scripture, then looking for subsequent verses where the theme unfolds, then finally showing its grand fulfillment in Christ near the end of the Bible.

This week, I found myself reading Isaiah 30:21, which contains the phrase “This is the way, walk in it.” That took me down a rabbit trail on the theme of walking. Here are six verses in the Bible that trace the theme.

Genesis 17:1
¹ When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,

In promising salvation, God moves first. He found Abram and invited him on a walk. This verse is a strong call - walk and be blameless. Is it conditional? Does Abram need to be blameless as he walks? (That’s impossible!) Or is that when you are walking with God, he is the one who will cause you to be blameless if only you keep walking with him?

Psalms 1:1
¹ Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers

This is the very first verse in the book of Psalms. It serves as a gateway to the
entire book. It’s talking about where one walks. We find that there really are
only two paths presented. You can walk with God, or you can walk in the wicked path. It’s interesting that it begins not by saying directly, “Walk with God!” But indirectly, it says you will be happy if you don’t walk in the way of the wicked. It leaves the reader asking, “Which way shall I walk then?” The obvious answer is to walk with God.

Isaiah 30:21
²¹ And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Jeremiah 6:16
¹⁶ Thus says the LORD:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

The Old Testament story is one of wandering off the path. A few years ago, there was a TV show based on the lore of J.R.R. Tolkein that introduced a nomadic set of characters called Harfoots. As they wandered from place to place, they recited a prime directive: Nobody goes off trail. Nobody walks alone.

These verses from the books of Jeremiah and Isaiah remind us of the constant call to return to the path we’ve been called to walk all along. It began with Abraham and continues with all his offspring. It’s always easier to wander off than it is to walk with intention as the path winds around and goes up and down.

1 John 1:7
⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

The good news that comes in the New Testament is that God himself came to walk with us in the person of Jesus Christ. When we were as lost from the path as we could be, God’s son came to walk on earth. One theologian called him, “Yahweh (the LORD) in sandals.”

The invitation of this verse answers the question we found back in Genesis 17:1. Do we have to keep ourselves blameless as we walk with God? No, it’s an impossible task. But as we walk with Jesus, in the light of his person and work - then who he is (God and man) and what he has done (atoned for sin in his death and resurrection) - cleanses us from our sin and keeps us on that ancient path.

Revelation 3:4-5
⁴ Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

So many themes of the Bible find their fulfillment in the final book, Revelation. Here, the verse begins with a warning, but the good news is that promise. Those who walk with Jesus, who are cleansed by his blood, are dressed in white, the color of purity. Those made pure have their name in the book of life and have Jesus testifying to their authenticity before God the Father and all the angels around his throne.

These six verses are a great list to memorize. You could work on it while you’re walking. These verses show you the path from beginning to end and invite you. This is the way, walk in it.

Living in California, the weather permits walking pretty much year-round. Someone has called walking with other Christians “discipleship at three miles an hour.” You walk fast enough to go somewhere, but slow enough to engage in conversation along the way. I hope these verses will give you something to consider as you walk along.