Walking or Standing Still?

I was out for a walk the other day when up from behind me came someone on one of those ne “Segway” gizmos. You know, those things you stand on that look like a doctor’s scale on wheels and move about depending on how you lean. He zoomed past me and faded away before me like an Olympian though the truth was the fella wasn’t really moving at all.

I walked on… Soon someone else motored up from behind. This time it was someone on a scooter, only the scootee on the scooter wasn’t scooting, he was just standing there, right foot behind left as motor power and momentum moved him forward – on His mark, all set, but never actually “go”-ing. His machine did all that.

Two such scooters like that passed me as I walked, and one come toward me from ahead. Two bicycles also passed me, but no one was peddling. Instead these too grumbled by as mini motor power propelled them. All these folk were out like me on the paved trail, enjoying fresh air, enjoying sunshine and nature but not one of them was exercising. Their brains may well have been duped by the illusion (delusion?) of exercise but their bodies missed the benefit.

I also saw a woman with two large leashed dogs out on this trail. All three of them were walking… in fact the dogs tugged on their restraints as the woman at times stumbled forward with them. “Yay!” I whispered internally. Someone at least and at last was getting exercise.

I wonder at times if these same odds, if this same illusion (delusion?), has not also invaded the Christian’s mindset. “Walk in the Spirit,” urges Paul (Gal. 5:16), “walk by faith,” “walk in Christ,” “…walk properly as in the daytime…” “…run with perseverance…” (2 Cor. 5:7; Col. 2:6; Rom. 13:13; Heb. 12:1). As Christians we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works… that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 3:10.) But many, it seems, prefer to coast… standing still…  fooling their minds into thinking they are somehow growing stronger.

Attending an inspiring concert is not church, not challenge, not being salt or light or comfort or hope to a dying aimless world. Collecting Christian paraphernalia or wearing shirts with slogans is not bearing a cross for Christ. Walking… real walking in Christ is to “walk in the same way in which He [Jesus] walked.” (1 John 2:6), to “walk in the light, as He [Jesus] is the light” (1 John 1:7), to “follow in His [Jesus’] steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

And where did Jesus steps take Him? Out there… into the world… a beacon of Truth to a dark and dying humanity.

More tomorrow…

To hear Pastor Andrew’s Sunday message, go to the Facebook page of Lincoln Baptist Church, or link to the livestream from the church website.