I love to walk. It doesn’t mean I can’t run or that I detest running. If anything, walking has helped me into such fitness that I can comfortably run, were I to choose to. However, I don’t, for the simple reason that there are certain aspects of God’s nature that I wouldn’t truly absorb while running, as I do when I walk. Walking allows me to see the preciousness of God’s majesty more fully. I have been blessed to live near very scenic walking routes. One route in particular is a vast expanse of miles and miles of tea farms. Another route offers me a vantage view of Nairobi’s skyline.
While I’d still take in the general beauty of these things if I ran, I would certainly miss the details. Unless you slowed down, you might never notice a scenic dam tucked away in the tea bushes. Your ears may not wander to the faint sound of a waterfall not too far from you. In short, you might see the grand scale but not appreciate the little things that make the whole thing much more epic.
The same is true with the Christian life. There is a reason why, despite the many commands to run the race, our pilgrimage as Christians is best described as a walk.
Walk By The Spirit
The phrase “Christian walk” traces its roots to the biblical command to “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). It is the expectation that the one whom the Spirit indwells will not “walk” according to our former ways but by our newness of life (Ephesians 2:1-3, 10; 4:1, 17-24). When God granted us a new heart, he put his Spirit within us, and therefore, we walk by the Spirit (Ezekiel 36:27, Romans 8:4).
Are you walking by the Spirit? Would you say his fruit marks your life (Galatians 5:22-23)? Do you strive to kill what’s worldly in you (Colossians 3:5, 1 Peter 3:18, Romans 8:13)? Is God the king of your heart, or do you just go about doing whatever is right in your own eyes (Judges 17:6)?
If not, I urge you to reconsider; your life hinges on nothing else. You have a Savior who bids you welcome (Matthew 11:28-30). Please run to him and then join us in this walk that has no peer.
Appreciate God’s Majesty
Walking is one of the best ways to help us see our insignificance. It beckons us to think a bit more about the greatness of God because walking slows us down. It helps us think beyond ourselves. Additionally, it prompts our senses to take note of our surroundings.
For instance, one would not immediately catch a glimpse of the vast Nairobi skyline using my route home. If you ran, you’d easily breeze past it. But if you slowed down, your eyes would not miss a view so beautiful it compels you to think of the God who created the universe. You’d marvel at the littleness of man’s ingenuity: our tallest buildings look like nothing from 2km above sea level and tens of kilometers away. Of course, if you were closer to the buildings, you’d immediately be filled with awe for what man can do. But from my vantage point, you can only marvel at God’s majesty. You reckon the truthfulness of Isaiah’s assertion that all our works are nothing before God (Isaiah 40:17-18).
Are you to run the race with endurance? Absolutely! When tempted to give up because of all the world throws your way, don’t stop running. However, when it comes to the things of God, slow down to appreciate them. Walking helps remind us that there are certain things we can do, all of which pale in comparison to what God can do. Does that include walking right next to those buildings? Yes, for we ought not to shy from appreciating man’s ingenuity, but never stop until through it we have seen God’s. Beyond the skyscrapers is an expanse no work of man can match.
Walking Helps You Love Well
The Bible does not command us to run in love but rather to walk in love (Romans 14:15, Ephesians 5:2, 2 John 1:4-6). The point is to slow down. In Romans 14, Paul instructs the saints on how they ought to treat one another in the church. He categorizes them into two: strong and weak believers. In Romans 14:15, he tells those who, like him, see nothing as unclean not to grieve the one who does, for doing so isn’t walking in love.
However, what if, at least in your mind, you were loving or walking in love? We sometimes grieve those around us without realizing it. Our intentions may be good, but perhaps instead of walking in love, we simply ‘ran in love.’ We did not pause to consider the circumstances around us, thereby becoming a stumbling block.
As 1 Corinthians 13:5 reminds us, love doesn’t insist on its own way. Instead, as saints, we are called to regard others as more significant than ourselves. To walk in love is to do as Christ did; that is, he sacrificed himself for us all (Ephesians 5:2). Therefore, instead of ‘running in love,’ slow down and get to know your neighbor. And if you have already ‘run in love,’ slow down and strive to love well.
Take Off Your Earphones
Now, this is something that isn’t exclusive to running, but I often wonder why some people wear earphones. I have nothing against those who do and understand why they are worn under certain circumstances. However, there are certain places where the earphones are more of a distraction than helpful. It saddens me that someone might miss out on the sound of a waterfall or a stream, or the chirping of birds, or the rustling of leaves in the wind. What’s the point of walking or even running past beautiful nature whose sounds we are unable to hear?
What’s the point, indeed, of walking or aiming to love fellow saints well if you don’t want to hear the sounds of either? Sometimes, earphones are necessary to block out the noises and distractions of this world. However, flowing streams of water (Psalm 1:3; 23:2, Song of Solomon 4:15; 5:12), chirping birds (Psalm 104:12, 17), and rustling leaves (Psalm 1:3) aren’t noise. In the same vein, the joys and sorrows of fellow saints (1 Corinthians 12:26, Romans 12:15) and the groans of those eagerly awaiting their glorification (Romans 8:23) also shouldn’t be considered distractions worthy of being blocked away. More quieting than natural symphonies are the sweet melodies that lead to the salvation of many (Colossians 3:16-17, Psalm 40:3).
Walk on, dear saint. Slow down some, and listen intently. There’s so much to be in awe of and, indeed, so many that we could love well if we simply walked.
