The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-08-28
WITH GOD.

Privilege for All.
To walk with God is the highest
spiritual attainment of the Christian. 1t
means fellowship. intimacy and CON-
munion. as we have before pointed out.
Noah walked with God. and had this
testimony. that she pleased God" No
doubt there are many of lis who would
like to walk with God, or. at least. we
think we would. If our Lord Jesus
Christ should come down TO the CITY or
town in which we live. and select any
one of us for His companion while on
such visit to the earth, to walk with
Him over the mountains, OF through
the streets of the city, what an honor
we would esteem it How people would
talk about it! How many people would
say: II do wish the Lord had chosen
me for His companion 1t would be
known among all our friends and
neighbors. 1t would be known through
out all the church; nay. We might say,
throughout all the world. And yet this
is the privilege of each one Of us, not
for an occasion, but for every day and
for all time.
One of the favorite hymns of the
church is:
.Oh! for a closer walk with God";
and one of the chief complaints of the
average Christian is that it is difficult
TO maintain close walk with God.
There are many of us who want the
spiritual delight of walking with God,
who fancy that such walk would fill
the soul with Heavenly Joy: and no
doubt it does, albeit the men who have
walked the closest with God have had
to walk with Him IN the fire and through
the food, through the lions den and
many Affections. In walking with God,
Abel met his death: Noah had to con-
tend with the unbelieving antediluvians:
Abraham had to forsake country and
kindred: Moses Suffered Affections with
the people of God. choosing them
rather than the pleasures of sin for
season; the prophets We're despised and
rejected OF men. The most conspicuous
example of all was that of our Lord Jesus
Christ. who never for even one small
moment lost communion whhsG God, or
parted company with Him. In one
sense. He was the most lonelyman who
ever,wa'ked with this world. because
Yet we would not for moment leave
the impression that walk with God is
of necessity one of sorrow and Attic
ton only; for the highest expressions of
Joy of which we know anything are
from those whose walk with God hrNe
been the closest. 1t is, indeed. only
the Christian who walks with God who
can sing in his sorrow and Affections.
But to come back to the question,
'''Why is it so'difficult to find and MAIN
tain close walk with God?" We think
the answer to this is found in the fact
that it is not so much that we want to
walk with God as it is that we want
God to walk with us. We are fond of
our own way, even when it is not pleas
inglto God. We are not willing to give
it up But to walk in our own way.
which, at the same time. is not God
way, is to lose His company. But to
lose companionship with God is to fill
our souls with darkness and trouble.
Our souls cry out for God, for the lM-
ing God; but God will not walk with lis
when our way is not His way If,
therefore. we would resume our walk
with God, we must abandon our s.ay
and go over to His way again. The
whole trouble is in our indisp0-
sition ito leave our wav and
always walk in God way. This is
70 fear the Lord. to walk in Hfs
way" 1t is not that God ever parts
company with us. but that we part COM
pany with Him. 1t is sot said that GoS
walked with Enoch, hut that ..Enoca
walked with God" God has His walk
in this world; it is open and plain to
any one who chooses ~ walk in it
He is not far from any one Of u.s.
Whosoever viii may coaHe and walk
with Him. Master, wLere dwellest
Thou9" was asked by two of the disci-
piles of jesus. HIS answer,Uas: Come
and see." When He was On earth, He
was always easily found. ian the high
way; in the temple; by the well; in the
house of the Pharisaes: eating with pub
licans and sinners: by the seashore:
everywhere where ahe need of man
called Him. If we kave never found
Him. He is within hearing of cur call.
II we already know Hin, and are walk
ing with Him in the way of His COM
mandments, He is with us: for ~ such
He says: 10, am with you AWAY;
IF any man win be My disciple. let
hin. take up his cross and come after
Me" This il the way to walk with
God. But to do this we must deny
ourselves; and this is where the pixch
comes. We would all be glad 10 ha-e
God walk with as in our Uau. and 30
indorse and sanctify it, but are me-
anxious to walk in His way, even for ,
the sake of walking with Him.
1t must not be supposed that walking
with God will make asoeticS of me-. !,
This was the mistake OF some of the ;
earlier Christians who fled to the desert !
and the mountains. thinking that. in |
this way only, could they maintain a
walk with God. But His delights are
with the sons of men, not apart from
them. To mingle with men for their
good, to leave with them a testimony
for God. is the Christians high calling.
TO mingle with men, leaving God out
OF companionship. is the sure way of
becoming corrupt So jealous was
Moses for the presence of God with
him that he prayed that. if God went
not up with him into the promised
land, he might Tot be sent And again,
we find him praying: ..Show me Thy
HaVr A close walk with God Is easy