I had just heard the news, it wasn't good. I felt the tremor, although the news was not affecting me directly. Another hero (though not mine) tossed his character aside for a momentary forbidden pleasure. Another leader somehow felt that the influence of the Kingdom would not be forfeited if he would choose sin instead of righteousness. Although I no longer ran in his circles of influence, I was still historically connected and therefore emotionally connected.
Years ago, this hero (as a young man), scaled the respect and admiration of so many and rose above the position of many of his college peers. Such potential that he was able to "arrive" by many of the standards of the day. Yet in one fell swoop, in one tragic decisive moment ... he was headlines. In less than a week, he went from beloved to belittled. Where once he was merely criticized for articulate controversy now he was defrocked because of moral fallacy and justifiable condemnation.
Actually, this fallen hero was no different than so many of the men of his day, and not all that different from so many of his fallen predecessors. NOTE: So many of us think we have the padlock in place on the door of our wicked imaginations. So many of us think that we are strong enough to keep the volatile nature of our sinful (but secret) ambitions in check. So many of us have even been counseled into believing that it is just a "Man thing" or a "woman's prerogative" to lie a little, cheat a little, and steal a little. This type of thinking runs rampant when we have merely a religious walk with a god, instead of a Relevant Walk with Our God. Our futile selfish labors will feed the fire of the desire to be recompensed for our long-suffering while keeping our lusts in check.
What is a Relevant Walk with Our God? Two men are mentioned specifically in scripture to have walked with God or at least are connected to the phrase "walked with God" ... One of them (Enoch) started this walk after the birth of a Son that he named "The Man of the Dart" or "How long before I am Launched?" . The other(Noah) had a "walk with God" was so notable in his character that it differentiated him from those of his generation. This "walk with God" was the foundation for the amazing events that would surround the influence of the life of these men(though neither were without fault).
For just a moment, focus on the phrase "Walk with God" ... held within the treasure chest of the word "Walk" and its usage comes a description of "Relevant" walk...
1. It is a willing walk ... we walk ourselves ... by our choosing ... He has chosen us.
2. It is a shared walk ... we don't walk by ourselves ... we walk with another who walks with us.
3. It is a purposeful walk ... to walk with Him ... loving Him loving us.
4. It is a walk with the future understood and in view ... forever with Him, Who is forever with us.
5. It is a walk that focuses on the Quality of the actions and shared desires of both Walkers.
Actually it is not just "what would Jesus do?" ... it may be better to add some personal communication ... "What do I do, while walking with You, Jesus?"
While walking with the Love of my Life I may still mess up, but it is a lot harder to carelessly throw away the future of that relationship's influence for something that would immediately offend and hurt My Love, walking with me.
As I was hearing the news, I looked out the window into the cloud filled day to see a blue hole open in the clouds ... immediately I desired to fly through the clouds toward the open blue. I wanted to close the distance that seems to be there at times. Jesus, hold me close ... without you, how can I begin to stand?
Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
It appears my God has far more invested and vested in this walk with Him ... best trust Him fully. Let's walk with Jesus. And I saw the open hole in the sky. I Corinthians 10:13 ... check it out.
HLFA,
Jeff