Walking with God in a Troubled World

Robert E. Gentet

© July 24, 2013

Over 700 years before the birth of Christ, God spoke through the prophet Micah a truth that still rings true today:

He [God] has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (6:8)

In the beginning, when God created Adam and Eve, the Scriptures indicate it was common for God to walk and talk with the newly created couple. Being able to walk and talk with His creation was God's desire from the very beginning.

But, this walking and talking with God relationship soon was broken when sin entered the world. The relationship with man needed to be restored. Without God's input, man becomes hopelessly confused and disoriented about all kinds of things.

For example, man no longer knows the answer to the fundamental questions of life: Why am I here? Is there a purpose in life? How did life originate? Is this life all there is? How then shall we live?

People have spent enormous amounts of time and money trying to answer these questions. Yet, the answers are all there in the way that God talks to us today in the words of the Holy Bible.

Through Christ, His perfect life, His death on the cross, bearing our sins for us, and His glorious resurrection we have the way restored for walking and talking with God. This restoration comes about by God's grace and the free gift of salvation we receive through faith in Christ.

St. Paul tells us in Romans 5:1:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

But, while we have peace about our relationship with God, do we have peace in our everyday life? Specifically, I wish to address the concerns that come about through world events and events affecting our nation, state and local communities, as well as the many and various personal problems.

The news is often not good. Many nations are in tumult. We have many problems confronting us also in this nation. National, state and local governments face many hurdles. Even the weather seems out of control -- floods, fires, droughts, tornadoes -- you name it. Many personal and family lives are in turmoil.

In our walk with God, how does this all fit in? How would God want us to react to the complexities facing our world, our nation, and our own personal lives? Does our walk with God have anything to do with the real world around us?

In our walk with God, as His people, He will do for us what He started with Adam and Eve. He will explain where we came from, all the many things He does, and what He wishes to see and do in our lives.

As we walk with God, He wants us to see Him in many ways. God, in His Word, presents Himself to us in many familiar relationships. Now I'm only giving a few of the relationships that Jesus presents Himself to us. The Father and the Holy Spirit also have unique relationships to us, but that is for another time.

In the Bible, Jesus is spoken of as being our Savior, a prophet, a high priest, the King of kings, our friend, our elder brother, and our husband. Maybe you can think of even more relationships.

As you walk with Jesus, you know you are walking with a very important Person! Using the Bible, Jesus is going to tell you much about Himself. He wants you to know Him well!

Your relationship with Jesus is based upon His great love for you as your Savior. It's based upon His willingness to come from Heaven, be born of the Virgin Mary, endure many temptations without sinning, subject Himself to cruel punishment and death on a cross for your sins, and then openly displaying His victory by His bodily resurrection.

This relationship you have heard of many times. It's very important to remember it. But, it is also important to grow in the knowledge of other relationships He has with you as His child. These other relationships help solve many of the anxiety problems we face in life.

You are walking with the greatest Prophet who has ever lived. Talk about someone who knows all about the future! That's Jesus! Nothing is a mystery to Him. He isn't surprised about world events. He accurately predicted them! And He tells us as He told St. John in the Book of Revelation:

Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Rev. 1:17-18)

Christ is the One who has told you in advance what you see taking place around you. It's according to His predictions. It's no surprise. So don't worry — God has not lost control of world events.

You are walking with the King of kings and Lord of lords! St. John, in the Book of Revelation, calls Jesus:

...the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. (Rev. 1:5)

Think of the most important leader on Earth that you would like to take a walk with. Chances are, you won't get to do it. But as a Christian, your daily walk is with the King of Kings and Lord of lords! He is the Lord of this Earth and does what He wishes with the kingdoms of the World. They are accountable to Him, whether they realize it or not. The course of history is determined by God, and not by man.

You are walking with the High Priest of Heaven! He offered Himself in your place on the cross. And now in your great time of need, your need for forgiveness, He is there to intercede before the Father for you. This is what He tells you as you walk with Him - He forgives, He has walked the walk as well as talked the talk. The Father listens to Him, and in His love for you, the victory is yours over sin.

You are walking with a Friend. We all know how important it is to have good friends. Friends mean a lot. But, our most important Friend is the Man/God, Jesus Christ! To His confused disciples on the night that He was betrayed, Jesus said:

You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:14-17)

Jesus is the One who first chose us to be His friend. He is the One who desires to walk with you. But continued walking together implies - yea, demands - that we desire to do His will. That's why the seven messages to the Churches in the Book of Revelation contain correction as well as praise. See Revelation 2 and 3.

We are walking with our Elder Brother. It's a family relationship. Christ is the firstborn of many brethren. He counts us as close family. He is willing to do anything for our ultimate good. He was willing to die in our place!

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says [quote from Psalm 22:22], -I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises. (Hebrews 2:10-12.)

In another analogy, Christ sees us as His wife! The Book of Revelation says:

For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. [Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.] (Rev. 19:7-8)

That ultimate human relationship is yet another picture of the One with whom we walk. Of all the people on Earth, I most enjoy walking and talking with my wife. This must be one of Christ's most pleasing analogies as how He views His walk with us! It shows God's great desire for a close relationship with His people.

In one sense, the Book of Revelation is about the conflicts between good and evil. It's about how the devil persecutes God's Church. The book makes very clear Jesus is the Victor!

Some time ago, I went through the Book of Revelation with a small group of people at an in-home Bible study. My wife came up with a concise way of summing up the Book of Revelation: -We win!-

When Jesus appeared to St. John, it was during a time of great persecution on the early Christian Church. Many had been killed. The last surviving apostle, John, was imprisoned on a tiny island. Where was God in all this? Many must have asked that question then, just as many Christians today wonder when they look at events in your lives and the world around them.

The answer is the same as Jesus gave St. John. He is still ruling from His Highest Heaven. The Book shows how he overthrows the devil's and the world's attempts to make an end to the Church. In Jesus' earthly ministry, He promised: -The gates of hell shall not prevail against it [the Church].- And Jesus has kept that promise!

Much has been said recently about the spy capabilities of the USA and other nations. But they are nothing compared with God's ability to know what is going on!

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)

In your walk with God, remember all the many ways that He views His walk with you. And, when the time comes for that final walk on this Earth, remember:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. (Psalm 23:4)

And:

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

May you be blessed (I know you will) in your walk with Jesus, both now and forever more!

Further Reading

For more insight on why human suffering, download the following resource:

• www.lhm.org/projectconnect/downloadfile.asp?ID=3115 (Link will download a PDF file)