Walk in the Name of Christ

​Micah 4:5 ~ “For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.”
 
Look around at the world for a moment, beloved, and know that this is absolutely true—every person on this earth is walking in the name of their god. This is more than the bowing down to foolish statuettes of various deities. Every heart of every man is duly dedicated to their own idea of what they consider divine. Often it falls into the category of personal self-interest, other times there is a strong desire for a higher power to hold onto. But there is a different situation for those who belong to Christ. For the true believer in Jesus walks by faith with Him.
 
As we consider our text today, you must understand that there are only two religions in this world. There is the religion of human self-interest and then there is the religion of Christ. Most tend to hesitate at the term “religion” but it simply means a systematic belief held with ardor and faith. Every person is religious—even atheists. Paul recognized this condition in the city of Athens. Acts 17:22 states, “So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.’”
 
As we consider the opening of our text we read, “For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god.” There are three concepts to unpack from this portion of the text. First, it is a universal condition for it says, “all the peoples.” Every culture, every nation and language and people upon this earth all hold fast to the desire to walk in the name of a god. Even atheism is a religion, holding fast to the notion that if there is no divine creator or supernatural god then it stands to reason that man, himself, if the arbiter of destiny and developer of truth. And, in a syncretistic culture, the desire is to try and integrate these various religious ideas to function in some harmonious fashion. It doesn’t work. For the next thought is this: though it is a universal condition, it is also an independent pursuit as we see in the simple term “each.” Everyone has a notion of how their religion ought to function. And those same “everyones” hold strong opinions on how others should function as well. The reason it does not work stems from the fall of man, when selfish self-interest was born in the human heart. Judges states it this way, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). The third concept is this: it is considered a “walk.” It is not a run, a crawl, a race or a strain. It is a walk and that conveys the idea that this is a purposeful and determined pursuit that is desired. And so each person in the world is in pursuit of some version of the divine that they have invented and desired for themselves.
 
Until, that is, when truth breaks upon our hearts like a hammer upon a stone. All our notions and ideas are vanquished in the wondrous truth of Christ. The second part of our text continues, “but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.” Again, let us gaze upon three things. First, it is a joyful union with those who are with the LORD, for it is stated, “we” will walk. The divisions of humanity are removed and, instead, there is harmonious connection when standing with the LORD. Jesus prayed for this very thing in John 17:11, “And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” The second thing to see is that this is not just the natural condition but a volitional desire as we read that we “will” walk with the LORD. Obedience to Christ is our loving response to the salvation He has purchased for us. Jesus told us clearly, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The third thing to know is that this is an eternal condition for it says quite clearly that we will walk with the LORD, “forever and ever.” There is no possibility of separation from Him when we have been redeemed. Our life in Christ is eternal. Revelation 22:4-5 says, “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”
 
So, beloved, by what name in this world do you walk? Let us cast away all self-imposed notions and set our steps to follow the LORD Jesus Christ according to His word.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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