“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Stepping off the lunar landing module Eagle, American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the surface of the moon, 240,000 miles from Earth. As he made his way down the ladder, a television camera attached to the craft recorded his progress and beamed the signal back to Earth where hundreds of millions watched in great anticipation. At 10:56 p.m. on July 20, 1969 – Armstrong spoke his famous quote, which he later contended was slightly garbled by his microphone and meant to be “that’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” He then planted his left foot on the gray, powdery surface, took a cautious step forward, and humanity had walked on the moon. “Buzz” Aldrin joined him on the moon’s surface at 11:11 p.m., as they took photographs and planted a U.S. flag. Knowing that they were doing something unprecedented in human history, Aldrin felt he should mark the occasion. So he made the following statement: “This is the LM pilot. I’d like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way.” In a not-often-told story, he then ended radio communication and there, on the silent surface of the moon, read a verse from the Gospel of John, and followed with communion. He later reflected – “It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements.”
Among the items the astronauts left on the moon’s surface was a plaque that read: “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot on the moon–July 1969 A.D–We came in peace for all mankind.” In doing so, these men left their mark in the history of space exploration. If you were asked who you feel left the greatest mark on the history of mankind, who would you name? It might depend on what has influenced your life to that point. Scientists might cite Newton, physicists possibly Einstein, or others could consider Edison as the greatest inventor. Churchill or Julius Caesar might be named as the greatest of all politicians, while Mozart and Beethoven would undoubtedly be at the top of the list of composers. Humanitarians might look to Nelson Mandela or Mother Teresa. However, those who have fallen in step with Jesus as their Lord and Savior would not have to think about their answer. In fact, Time even had Jesus Christ at the top of its list as the Most Significant Figures in History in 2013. Dr. James Allan Francis reminded us that Jesus “never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things usually associated with greatness. He had no credentials but himself.” Yet no individual has “affected the life of mankind on earth as powerfully as that One Solitary Life.”
So, how is your walk going? Consider a journey you have committed to taking with another individual. When you walk with that person, you won’t be going in opposite directions. If you decide, for whatever reason, to do that – you won’t be able to effectively listen. You can’t enjoy them, you can’t share things with them, and you won’t be able to understand them. The same is true in your walk with the Lord. Referencing a journey with Christ, the Apostle Paul said – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). When you walk with the Lord, your will is going to align with His will. When you fall in step, walking side by side with Him – your focus will be on Him, and you will not falter. The Old Testament prophet put it this way: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). We have all heard someone say how much easier it is to talk the talk then walk the walk. If you are unable to walk your talk, the worth of your words will be lost. When you are true to God’s Word, your walk will reflect His talk. Someone once spoke this truth “In the end, it’s not the talk but the walk that matters.” The English Standard Version of The Bible puts it this way: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…” (Colossians 2:6). Think of someone who you could honor at their funeral by saying, “This world was a better place because they walked here.” Wouldn’t it be great if someday the same could be said about you? Simply walk the walk.
REFLECTION: As you examine your journey with Christ, what areas of your walk with Him do you need to improve? How might you use others to truthfully advise you when your walk is not matching your talk? How will you commit to set an example for those who are drifting in a direction apart from God?
A NEW LOOKUP DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT. JULY 28, 2018. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.