Annie
Scriptures:
Micah 6:8
Psalm 23
Daniel 3
2 Kings 6
Matthew 17
Can you imagine what it must have been like? The cool breeze gently wafting through the trees, filling the evening air with the perfume of the myriad of blossoms that stretched as far as your eyes could see. Laughing as you shared your joy at just being with Him, walking along the well worn paths, hearing His voice, revelling in the extravagance of His love and the delight He showed in simply being with you. This was the reality for Adam and Eve, a reality that was lost all too easily. A reality that was redeemed by the precious blood of our Saviour and Lord at Calvary. A reality that is offered to all, and can be ours when we surrender our lives and seek that redemption that was so dearly bought.
We have been created to walk with God, yet we are drawn into seeking for the transient, flashy joy that this world gives, deluded by the one whose mendacity tempted Adam and Eve all those long years ago. Yet, in all our disastrous choices, in all our falling away from God, His love, His salvation is ever faithful, never failing, and ours if we turn back to Him.
We have, despite all that our mind hears from this world, been created to walk with God. Though our journey here on earth may take us through the darkest valleys, through pain and sorrow, the immutable fact remains. We were created by God, to walk with Him for all of forever.
As we face the hurdles, the rocky roads, the unknown twists and turns of this life, it is God’s joy and promise that He will always walk with us, no matter what, He will always walk with us. Through our hurt, through our sorrow, through our feelings of guilt and shame, His hand is ever outstretched, reaching to take our hand and show us how to navigate the path.
And when the sunlight breaks through, it is again His joy to lead us to the waterside, to sit beneath the shady trees in the verdant pasture, to let us know that He is still with us.
How do you think those three young men felt as they were thrown into that furnace in Babylon because they chose to not walk with a false god? They chose to refuse to bow down, they chose to accept the consequences of that choice, and there, within the flames that only burnt the ropes that bound them, Nebuchadnezzar saw a fourth man, walking with them.
As Elisha’s servant expressed his fear of the army who had come to capture his master, Elisha asked God to open the servant’s eyes to see that they were not alone. What the servant saw must have been astounding, the hillsides around the city were full of horses and chariots of fire, an amazing lesson in knowing that God was walking with them, complete with the host of heaven.
The sight of Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah on the Mount, astonished the three disciples who were chosen to walk that hill with Jesus. Their eyes were opened to see the spiritual world that Jesus saw at all times, witnessing that He was never alone, and that this was God’s desire for them and all of us who turn to Him.
We can find so many examples, both in the Old and New Testaments of God reinforcing the truth that He is always with us, always willing to walk with us. I have to ask myself, how often do I forget this and not listen as He says “Let Me walk with you”? How often do I forsake the joy of holding His hand? How often does my pride get in the way of knowing the peace that pours from God as I walk beside Him? Yet, all of this is never wasted, the valleys we walk through are allowed by our Father God for Him to complete His work in us.
There is one unseen, yet absolute truth that our enemy does all he can to steal from us, even though it is impossible for him to do this. Through the sacrifice of Christ, His death and resurrection to Glory, we have been given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven where we will walk with Him for the whole of endless eternity.
Prayer: Abba Father, open our eyes to see You and Your Kingdom surrounding us, sustaining us and protecting us. Grant us the grace to allow You to walk with us throughout our earthly journey, in Jesus Name we pray. Amen