According to Francis de Sales, a 17th-century writer, Christ-like simplicity is equivalent to what we see in little children who, with one hand, cling to their father while picking strawberries or blackberries from the hedges with the other hand. Because just as you must always maintain one hand in your Heavenly Father's while accumulating and dealing with the world's offerings, you must also turn to Him to determine if your behavior and actions are pleasing to Him.
This statement remains true even in today's day and age. In Philippians 3, Paul aimed to live his life with zeal and dedication. He recognized that honesty and sanctification are necessary steps on the path to becoming Christ-like. The story of Enoch is not written about much in the bible; the information on him cannot even constitute a seven-sentence paragraph. Yet, what has been written is enough to testify to the kind of a person he was, which just happens to be an example of who God calls each of us to be. In Jude 14-15, we learn that Enoch walked with God and prophesied against the people who lived ungodly lives. This was during a period of selfishness, disobedience, immorality, and idolatry.
Our Place In an Ungodly Generation
Through closely examining the story of Enoch we can understand that despite the period in time, two things still exist on earth: ungodly men/women who lead their lives as they please and godly men/women who stand in the gap to walk in God's way. The key is not to look for shortcuts to God. The world is flooded with easy-going formulas for a successful life that you can practice in your spare time and when it’s most convenient for you. We must not fall for that, even though crowds of people routinely do so. The way to a life in Christ is vigorous and requires total attention (Matthew 7:13-15).
The True Meaning of Christlikeness
What does it mean to lead a Christ-like life? Living a Christ-like life centers on the premise of following in the footsteps of how Jesus Christ lived and incorporating those attributes into our daily lives. These key attributes include leading with love in all that we do, seeking first the Kingdom of God, spreading the gospel with unbelievers, and turning from our sinful ways in favor of living holy. The more we practice embodying these principles daily, the more like Christ we can become. In this article, we will explore the various reasons we must walk in Christ and make the conscious decision to be more Christ-like when so many others choose not to.
1. No One Knows the Day or the Hour
In times of trouble, most of us do not run toward God but to our fellow man and the princes (leaders) of the land. We choose to trust men because it is easier, but we often stop following after they fail. Unfortunately, we do not go to God who is our true refuge (Psalms 118:8-9). We are all waiting for the Lord's return and the day we will stand Mbefore the judgment seat of the Lord. Despite the noise and distractions around us, we must learn to uphold God’s principles and remain diligent in our everyday walk in Christ. What we do Now as we await our life in eternity has great importance. Christ's return for the "religious" Christian will be a sorrowful affair. They will be shut off from His presence; unrecognized, they will go through a time of bitter remorse. Therefore, since we do not know the day, we must keep watch and do our part to prepare for the return of Jesus Christ. If Jesus finds you ready, you will enjoy a secure and permanent eternity in His presence---what a time of joy it will be!
2. To Work Out our Salvation
Salvation is not simply reciting a list of prayers followed by experiencing a continuous flow of your salvation. We must be aware that walking with God requires consistency, carefulness, and total dependence on Him. This understanding is the reason Paul tells the Philippians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. To begin with, the Greek verb "work out" means "to labor continuously to bring anything to fullness or culmination." As part of the sanctification process, this is accomplished by actively pursuing obedience. In his journey to become more like Christ, Paul describes himself as "stretching" and "pressing forward" (Philippians 3:13-14). His faith in eternal life was founded on his ability to fight well, finish his course, and remain faithful. Therefore must also strive to be a part of the rejoicing voices in the tents of the righteous (Psalms 118:15). As a result, believers are called to become what we are in Christ: dead to sin in practice and alive in God.
3. We Are Stewards
There is another story in the bible that speaks of a rich man who was going on a long journey far from his home. In preparation for this journey, he called three of his trusted servants and gave them money according to their abilities. Many years after coming back, two servants multiplied the money which had been given to them while one buried his money and had only what was initially given to him, which was displeasing to his master. Understanding why the master would be displeased with the servant who brought back only the money that was given to him highlights the meaning of being a good steward. Stewardship is faithfully managing what the master (God) has gifted us to bless others and bring glory to Him. It demonstrates our obedience and faithfulness to administer what has been given to us and the responsibility to manage it with the understanding that we will provide an account to Him over our usage of time, resources, money, salvation, information, and wisdom. When we walk in Christ, it is because we are stewards of everything we are and have, for the one who has granted us life as a gift.
4. We Are the Light of the World
In line with the principles of stewardship, Jesus calls us the light of the world. Psalms 118:27 says: "The Lord is God, and he has made His light shine on us." We are not just consumers or receivers of the light, but we are conduits of the same. Our lives must inspire praise for God, even among those who have never met Him. Many believers today are too scared to be counted among those of the faith, but it is not the characteristic of light to stay hidden. Part of our walk towards being more like Christ is living in the name of the Lord. You must represent God in your workplace, school, and even at home. Robert Lewis Stevenson watched a workman come by and ignite the gas lights along the street through the window when he was a boy. When asked what he was seeing, the child replied, "I see a man drilling holes in the darkness." Starting today, step out and drill a few holes in the darkness; you are the light of the world. Let us start where we are, as we push like Paul to be more like Christ because even dim lights stand out.
5. It Is a Source of Pride.
There is nothing more incredible than the celebration of life. Ours is a story that boasts pride within our hearts. God’s Salvation is what brought many of us back from the edge of death and hopelessness. The most beautiful miracle to listen to is the testimony of a man or woman who has experienced the grace of God. This speaks directly to how Jesus willingly paid the ultimate price for our lives when He selflessly died on the cross for our sins so that we might have eternal life. Our salvation is based on the goodness and the sacrifice of our Lord(Psalms 118:18b) and not a mere improvement of our morals. Because this is so, there is no place in this narrative for us to boast of our human ability. Instead, when we walk in the Lord, we demonstrate our pride only in what God has done in our lives.
6. We are Walking Apostles
There is a long list of people in your life who will never open a bible, go to church or sit under a sermon. Did you know that many unbelievers have met a Christian a few times throughout their life? Would you consider yourself an effective ambassador for God in the land of the living? People need help, forgiveness, joy, and peace today! Let us step out and be apostles worthy of living (Psalms 118:17).
7. Protection From Our Enemies
One of the many benefits of walking in Christ is enjoying unlimited protection. When you make the decision to give your life to our Father and become a child of God, you don’t have to worry about fighting your battles alone anymore. The Lord becomes your champion, refuge, and safe place through it all. This is clearly highlighted in the book of Isaiah, chapter 54, verse 17 which begins by boldly declaring that “no weapon formed against you shall prosper.” God loves us so much that He lovingly shields us from any attacks coming our way. As if it is not enough that God has us close to His heart, He also calls us the apple of His eye. The love of God is assured for all who walk with Him.
8. We Get To Know God Better
The more you spend time with someone, the greater you know them. The closer you are to the one giving the instructions, the clearer you can hear them. Our supreme need is to know God, even if we have never heard of Jesus because God has set eternity in the heart of every human being. Walking towards being Christ-like aligns with the quest of knowing God better. The more we are exposed to the works of God, the more we can begin to understand who God is and the significance of our relationship with Him.
9. It Separates Us From the Rest
A large percentage of the disciples were uneducated, uncultured, and without much money or power. Yet, these men went on to change the world. These men stood confidently on the word of God. Their bravery illuminates the effect of walking through faith in Christ. Walking with God will undoubtedly separate you from the crowd. As God’s children, we are each blessed with special gifts that have the ability to have a powerful impact on the world just like the disciples as long as we use them to glorify our Father.
10. It Grants Us Access to God's Promises
Finally, walking with God opens up doors to us that would have otherwise stayed closed. Psalms 118:20 says: "This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter." The lifestyle of thanksgiving and walking with God exposes us to God's favor. God promises us eternal life, that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and that God always has a plan and is in control so we don’t have to worry. Being given access to these promises gives us strength, peace of mind, and comfort during our times of need. What could be more of a blessing than this?
It is our hope that what we have shared may spark both excitement and curiosity within you that leads to a desire to get to know more about God. But don’t just take our word for it--we encourage you to spend some time reading the bible and carving out some alone time to talk to Him and ask Him for a deeper understanding of His Word. It is also our hope that you are reminded of the quest to seek God first each time you purchase and wear any of our Jesus Walks products.
Do not forget to shop at www.Jesuswalks.life for our Psalm 118 sneakers and more, they are made for you to represent Christ in style. We believe that as you wear these, you will be empowered and strengthened to walk like Christ. The benefits and results of walking with God – now and forever far outweighs losing your soul.
Strengthen your walk with the Lord today! @Jesuswalks.life
