“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NIV) (Amplified)
It was Karl Marx, the political thinker, who said ‘Religion is the opiate of the people.’ Through this statement, this avowed atheist alluded to the overpowering influence of religion on the human psyche. In essence, he was describing religion’s addictive effect as well as its ability to lull from reality that it has on its adherents. He sees religion as a type of escapism that those under pressure usually take solace in.
Since time immemorial, man’s need for God has expressed itself in diverse ways, chiefly in the guise of religion. Some have thus derisively concluded that man created God because he needed a higher being to look up to and worship. Hence, there is no gainsaying the fact that man is a spiritual being.
So, what is religion? It is simply defined as man’s instinctive search for God, which has taken many paths. Consequently, most people are never sure that they had found Him by the time they reached the end of their lives. So, how can you avoid being a perennial searcher who is continually seeking God, but never able to find Him? The answer is that you need to stop being a searcher and start being a walker. A searcher is characteristically someone who is full of questions about God – Does He exist? Why did He allow this to happen to me? How can you call God a father? What Laws do I have to keep or what rituals do I have to make in order to be in His good books? Etc. A walker on the other hand has already found the answer. He or she is already living the reality of relating with God and communing with Him. The phrase ‘To walk with’ connotes an existing and on-going trusting relationship, in this case, with God.
However, one thing needs to happen to make this transformation a reality. You need to first receive the light of God’s revelation to enable you to find Him. This means that a searcher is one who is still groping in spiritual darkness looking for God, while a walker has already found Him and is consequently walking in fellowship in His light. The bible says that the whole world is in darkness, but Jesus has come into the world with the light of the Father to illuminate the lives of whoever would receive it and give them life. The challenge many of us have accepted and which now enables us to walk in His light is by accepting the light of the revelation that Jesus Christ has died for our sins and is the only way to God. The continuing challenge is to keep on the path of light without straying or tiring. Our consistency in walking in God’s light is what determines our ability to initiate or maintain our fellowship with Him and this is guaranteed by our living the dictates of the word, which is God’s self-revelation.
So, the question you really need to answer is, are you a searcher or a walker? If you are still searching for the truth, understand that the bible says that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and that no one can come to the Father except through Him. Believe His truth and your search will come to an end. If on the hand you are a walker, how steadfast is your walk? Are you just following religion or actively walking with God?
Prayer:
Father, search my heart today and see if there be any wicked way in me. Lead me by the way everlasting so that my life will glorify you in Jesus name. Amen