Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” This truth is often applied to human relationships. It certainly applies on the human level, but should we not consider this truth in light of our walk with God? Recently the question was raised if God has various groupings of children? How can Christians claim a relationship with God and not be able to walk together? Maybe we should analyze our walk with God. Not everybody is walking in agreement with God.
On the human level, we need to experience some give and take to maintain relationships. It is also true that the more a person has some strong convictions, the more limited the quantity of people with whom he can walk in agreement. To walk with God means we must accept His character and the strong convictions that make God who He is.
God has a strong conviction on holiness. He said to those who desire to walk with Him, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1Pe 1:16). He will not walk with those who have sin in their lives. He will not walk with those who practice sin. Sin separated Satan and those who followed him from God. Sin will separate us from God. If we are walking with God, we must agree with Him on His standard of holiness. God has a strong conviction on respect for authority. God said, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation” (Rom 13:12). As the One who has all authority and has chosen to delegate some of it to humans, He will not walk with the rebellious individuals. Every account of angels or humans who rebelled against delegated authority ends with the rebels not walking with God. If we are walking with God, we must agree with Him on the issue of respect for delegated authority.
God has a strong conviction on expressing love. He first of all requires a first love toward Himself. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). Those who do not have their highest love for God cannot walk with God. He also requires that we love our fellow men. Mark 12:39 says, “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Since God has a love for the souls of men, those who walk with Him must share the same love. If we are walking with God, we must agree with Him on this issue of love for God and our fellow men.
God has a strong conviction on good home relationships. He made the marriage union a type of the union of Christ and the Church (Eph 5:2233). He is keenly interested in the supportive, caring love a husband has for his wife. The father in the home is to be a leader like Abraham (Gen 18:19). He also commands wives to love and submit to their husbands. as a couple walking with God, they will do all in their power to raise their children for the Lord. As children in the home choose to walk with God, they will desire to make their positive contribution to home life. Whether we are a father, mother or youth in the home, if we are walking with God, we must agree with Him on His concerns for the Christian home.
God has a strong conviction on His associates being separated from the world. Throughout the history of mankind, God has called men to separate themselves from the world. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2Co 6:17). “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” (1Jo 2:15-16). Those who seek to be culturally adapted to this world forfeit their walk with God. If we are walking with God, we must agree with Him on the doctrinal issue of separation from the world.
God also has a strong conviction on moral purity. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8). Would it also be true that blessed are the pure in heart for they may walk with God? God established the moral laws of purity. We must forsake our carnal nature and its desire for the less than pure activities. We will not be able to engage in questionable moral conduct in our walk with God. If we are walking with God, we must agree with Him on the moral issues of life. God has strong thoughts on our attitude about ourselves. “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1Pe 5:5). God calls the “high look, and a proud heart . . . sin” (Pro 21:4). according to Micah 6:8, the Lord requires us to walk humbly with God. For an imperfect man to walk with a perfect God should be a very humbling experience. God knows the thoughts of our heart, and we must be cleansed from pride and be clothed in humility. If we are walking with God, we must agree with Him on the issue of humility.
God has a strong conviction on honesty. The Devil is known as the father of lies. God is the father of truth and honesty. God will not tolerate companionship with a liar. We must be of those who have put “away lying, (and) speak every man truth with his neighbour” (Eph 4:25). If we are walking with God, we must agree with Him on His conviction for honesty.
God has a strong conviction on obedience. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt 7:21). Those who walk with God are expected to obey His direction. Since He knows best for us, why should we ever question His direction? We have a carnal nature that does not like being told what to do. We are tempted to have our own agenda. but if we are walking in agreement with God, we must obey Him.
God has a strong conviction on the Christian’s nonresistant role. God does not want His children to take vengeance in their hands.”Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (rom 12:19). Our authorized response is to “overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21). God is mindful how we talk about those who have mistreated us. He understands what we have gone through. but He is the judge on the matters. He will settle the scores that need to be settled. If we are walking with God, we must agree with Him on this issue.
Enoch walked with God and we can rightfully assume that God’s influence on his life made a godly man (Gen 5:22, 24). Noah walked with God and again we have record of a very godly man (Gen 6:9). Our walk in agreement with God will have the same effect on our life. As we become more godly, we will also be able to walk in agreement with others who are also walking in agreement with God. May the Divine influence continue to permeate our lives as we learn how to walk in agreement with God. Can God and man walk together except man agrees with God?
~Richland, PA
February 2011