The course held its dangers, but long experience had taught him that to walk through besetting perils was less risk than to run from them.”
–William MacLeod Raine (The Sheriff’s Son)
“This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”
–2 John 6 (NKJV)
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I have been doing a brief study of the small, personal letters of John (2 and 3 John). They are written to individuals and they give exhortation, especially regarding the truth, and warnings. I want to draw your attention to a couple of verses.
“I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.” –2 John 4 (NKJV)
“For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” –3 John 3-4 (NKJV)
That should be our goal, our expectation–to walk in the truth. The verse 2 John is translated by the RSV as “following the truth” and the NEB puts it this way, “living by the truth.” In this day where truth is considered to be relative, we continue to be steadfast in our walk. We follow the truth; we live by the truth. We obey the truth, and we seek to conform our lives to the truth. We walk according to the ways of God rather than the ways of the world.
To walk in the truth means that we have an authentic relationship with God. If our walk is genuine, it must be based upon His Word, no deviations, no compromise, but steadfast in the truth. Perhaps this would be a good time to read Psalm 119 for it deals with the Word of God and how it affects our lives and how we base our lives upon it. Barclay says, “The truth is not simply something to be intellectually assimilated; it is the knowledge which fills a man’s mind and the charity which clothes his life. The truth is what makes a man think and act like God.”
This world cries for toleration, but that can go only so far. Be tolerant until it comes to the truth! A man came to me once with a divisive doctrinal error regarding Jesus. I confronted him with it, and he said, in some many words, for me to compromise, to be tolerant. He said, “Can we agree to disagree”? “NO!” Was my reply, “not when it comes to heresy regarding Jesus Christ.” No matter what gospel Oprah pushes, Jesus is the only truth. Listen to His declaration: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6, NKJV).
The truth of our life–our walk–should line up with that of Jesus. 3 John implies that the truth is more than just to give assent to it. “It means to apply it to one’s behavior.” (John Stott) There is no difference between the profession of the truth and the practical living by the truth. These verses in 3 John could be translated, “the truth of your life” (RSV) or our “faithfulness to the truth.” (NIV)
So as you and I go down this pathway of life, let us stay true to the truth of God’s Word. Let us neither sway to the left or the right, but focus our eyes upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Walk in the way, because He is the way. Walk in the truth, because He is the truth. Let our lives be so guided by the truth of God’s Word that He will smile upon our faithfulness. Stay in the way, the bright and shining way… (J.S. Torbett) Upon reading these verses by the pen of John I am reminded of the great old hymn by J.H. Sammis:
“When we walk with the Lord
In the Light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!”