09/23/2020 TRANSFORMATIVE WALKS
Genesis 3:8 That evening they [Adam and Eve] heard the sound of THE LORD GOD walking in the garden; and they hid themselves among the trees. [Living Bible translation]
Summary
There are numerous verses in the Bible about walks or walking with GOD. It seems that even from the very beginning of humanity, GOD wanted to walk with us! There is strong evidence in Genesis that before “the fall,” Adam and Eve “walked” with GOD. They walked in a garden. In fact, they must have walked together so many times, in that Adam and Eve heard and recognized “HIS WALK.” It appears that the walks may have been regular and consistent---that is before “the fall.” After “the fall” things changed. Instead of Adam and Eve going on their usual evening walk with GOD, after “the fall” Adam and Eve were a “no show.” GOD was there, but Adam and Eve were not.
Genesis 3:8 notes “that evening,” they [Adam and Eve] “heard the sound of THE LORD GOD “walking in the garden” but they did not join in walking. Perhaps it was because of their fears or their focus on themselves because their focus was on themselves (e.g. they were naked—verse 11); because they were too busy blaming others for their disobedience to GOD or failing to repent to GOD and accept personal responsibility for what they had done (verse 12 and 13). They were spiritually naked---trying to hide their shame, their guilt of disobedience, and felt exposed. They were simply out of sync with GOD. Their sinful behavior had ruined “the walk.”
Throughout Biblical history, GOD has invited others to “walk.” GOD invited ninety-nine
year-old Abram to “walk before ME and be blameless” (Genesis 17:1 Revised Standard). When Abram accepted GOD’s “invitation,” his name was immediately changed from Abram to Abraham. GOD was starting the transformation.
Enoch also accepted GOD’s invitation to walk. GOD and Enoch’s walk was so close some state that Enoch transformed “from mortality” into “immorality,” or did not experience death. The BIBLE says that Enoch “was not.” Maybe Enoch was “not afraid,” “not concerned about what others thought, but more concerned about GOD.” Perhaps Enoch was “not the kind of person who blames others but instead, became the kind of person who asks GOD to examine his own mistakes first” or “not the kind of person to let anything (e.g., no thoughts or anxieties about pandemics or earthly matters) ever separate him from GOD.” Perhaps GOD just “took” the “old Enoch” and transformed him into something so different that people thought there was “a new man,” because of all the changes in Enoch’s mind, heart and spirit because of his close spiritual walk with GOD.
Perhaps Enoch looked at his hands and his hands looked new; he looked at his feet and they did too because in routinely walking and talking with GOD, the “old” Enoch was being transformed.
There are others who could also testify about the transformative powers of “a walk.” Ask the two men who walked with JESUS on the road to Emmaus (Luke24:13-35); ask Peter about his walk with JESUS on the water (Luke 24:13-35); ask the man who had been complaining about his physical problems and his situation for 38 years who was simply told by JESUS to “Rise, take up his sleeping mat and walk.” (John 4:8) or Paul who left this instruction to a church: “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).
Learning to walk with GOD can be transformative.