Last time in the mountains, it was early evening and the light filtering through the trees was peaceful and beautiful and Jesus was with me. (When is He not?) I sat on a wooden bench and started to pray. I pictured in my mind that I got up and began walking on the path in front of me with Jesus—sharing the evening’s walk with the Creator of the universe. After walking in easy silence for a while, He invited me to tell Him how my day went, and I told Him. Then I asked Him how His went, and He told me: “Perfectly.” And on the experience went for half an hour—or an indeterminate time; one doesn’t really know in such a circumstance. Whereupon, at once, I remembered I was still sitting on the bench. 

I know my experience was real in the most important sense.

It was C.S. Lewis who asked something along the following lines: If a man could live for a thousand years, and he spent all of his life drawing closer and closer to Jesus, what would he look like at the end of that time? Alternatively, if a man lived all that time in rejection of Jesus, indulging in complete selfishness of flesh and soul, what would he look like? Answers: the manifestations of Heaven and Hell, respectively, would become etched into these men’s countenances and souls. 

I believe, for followers of Christ, we are changed into His image over time at a rate proportional to how much time we abide in His presence moment by moment. Of course, we are invited to do this every day. The prophet Elijah found that the Lord wasn’t in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but instead revealed Himself, after the fire, as “a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12). Isaiah, in telling the people of Judah to heed God’s directives for them, shared these enlivening words from God: “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’” (Is 30:21). And both of these verses combine in my soul into something like this: “As often as possible, come listen as Jesus whispers sweet everythings in our ears.”

“Walk with Me, little one,” whispers our Shepherd. “I want you to know that early on I had my finger on your life, specifically for the plans and purposes you’re here to live out this very day.” However, it seems our flesh likes to protest: “Be right with You; I’ve got just a few issues I need to work out first.” But of course the flesh has the order wrong. Our transformation has always paralleled our steps of faith: “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Col 2:6). We received Him how? By faith alone. Praise God! So how are we to walk in Him? By faith alone. Praise God again!

And every time we come to Him in simple faith, our Shepherd changes us a little more into His image; and this means the fruit of the Spirit becomes more evident in our lives; and we’re reminded all over again of the transformative power of His love for us and that He alone provides everything that we have been missing, could ever hope for, could ever need.

I hope this encourages you to enjoy your walk with Jesus today.

Kevin Murray
© 2024 All rights reserved

Homework “get to” assignment: Find and listen to In the Garden. Many good versions exist, but I prefer the Alan Jackson live version.