THE QUESTION OF WALKING TOGETHER

(Part 1)

Amos 3:3

Morning Meditation 7/3/16

Verse 3 asks, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” This is a rhetorical question. Its obvious answer is no. The word “walk” is used here to convey the idea of proceeding along life’s pathway. The word “together” speaks of union or keeping company with one another as that journey proceeds. The word “agreed” means “to fix, to appoint” What this means is that there has to be something that fixes the differences.

The first harmonious walk the Bible talks about is Enoch’s walk with God (Gen. 5:22) and the next is Noah (Gen. 6:9). Enoch was raptured that he should not see death and Noah was guided to build the ark whereby he would escape the flood and repopulate the earth. Enoch went out before the flood (a type of the church) and Noah went through the flood and lived to see a renewed earth (a type of those who will go through the tribulation and come out on the other side to repopulate the earth during the millennium).

What was the secret of Enoch’s walk with God? The New Testament tells us something of this. Hebrews 11:5-6 says: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

We know that Enoch walked with God because the Bible says it.. We know that there was agreement because the Bible teaches that we can’t walk together unless there is agreement. What was the point of agreement between Enoch and God. First of all there had to be settled a point of agreement which would be the standard to reconcile differences. God was that Standard. Enoch walked with God because he was willing to submit to God and listen to and allow God to correct him when he got out of step.

Enoch walked with God because he believed that God is. This is what Hebrews 11:6 says. This verse is an explanation first of all of Enoch’s walk with God. Enoch did not see God with his eyes. Enoch saw God by faith. You say, “In that early day everyone believed in the existence of God.” I don’t think so. I believe they had the atheist, the agnostics and the idolaters. This is the reason our verse says in the context of Enoch’s walk with God, “ . . . He that cometh to God must believe that he is . . . ”

You cannot walk with God and question his existence. He that cometh to God MUST believe that he is. The Scripture is plain on this point. Now men will not find that God exists by Science. Hebrews 11:3 says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” How does this verse say we understand? It is by faith and there is no other way. If you want to walk with God in our day you must believe that he is. There can be no doubt in your mind about that. Faith and doubt cannot exist together.

Then next, you cannot walk with God unless you diligently seek him. This is what our verse says. The word “diligent” (ekzeteo) means “to seek out.” This word is a present active participle. The present tense represents continuous action in the present tense. The active voice means that the one seeking has to make the choice to do so. One of the basic choices in life is to seek the God who made us and determine to be right with him. This is not speaking of a passive existence. The man who walks with God is serious about his relationship with him.

Then next, you cannot walk with God unless you believe that God will respond to your diligent believing search. Verse six says, “ . . . and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” The word “rewarder” (misthapodotes) means “one who pays wages.” This amounts to a promise. We cannot be diligent in our search for God without finding him. He is there. He exists and he will be found of those who diligently search for him.

Amos said, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” The answer is an obvious no. There is no walk that is more important than our walk with God. Enoch walked with God. His walk is a good illustration to follow in our pursuit of God. We need to walk with God.

This walk begins with reconciliation. We are born enemies of God. God has moved to take care of what keeps us apart, i.e., sin. 2 Cor. 5:18-19: “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” God is not the one who is wrong. And he loves us so much that he has made reconciliation possible through the death of his Son. Do you agree that you need to be reconciled to God? If you are going to walk with God, this is where the walk begins. We begin our walk by being brought together with him through the death of Jesus. You cannot begin your walk and skip reconciliation. There must be an agreement in this matter.

A man who joins the Church and worships each week may think that he is walking with God. Joining the Church and worshiping does not reconcile one to God. God will never agree that Church membership qualifies one to walk with him.. God says the walk begins at the cross not the church. God will not change on this point. “Can two walk together except they be agreed?”

So a man who walks with God agrees with him on how that walk begins. Then there must be agreement with God on the degree of our involvement with the world. First John 2:15-16 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Do you agree with God on this point? You say, “I don’t know.” You just lost your walk! There can be no doubt in anything God says about what is right or what is wrong and maintain our walk. We must bow to the absolute Lordship of Christ. Are we bowed before his throne? Are we saying, “Speak Lord thy servant heareth” (1 Sam. 3:9). God says, “And be not conformed to this world” (Rom. 12:2).

You say, “preacher, this seems like a one sided walk where we have to agree with God about everything.” I’m glad you got the point. Reconciliation brings us back under the authority of his throne. The FREEDOM TO DISAGREE WITH GOD is where the unsaved world is. Reconciliation and submission to his absolute sovereignty is the restoration of salvation. If you are having problems with this, I simply ask you to answer one question. Are you trying to walk with God without beginning at the cross? There can be no walk without a proper beginning. It begins by being brought back into agreement, i.e., reconciliation through the death of Jesus. I have never seen a person who is genuinely saved and is overflowing with the Love of God have a problem with the Bible over what it says about what is right and what is wrong.

May the Lord bless each of you.

In Christ

Bro. White