The Walking Dead
by Bobby Liddell
The walking dead are all around us, living in darkness, seeking after fleshly things. Mindlessly, they wander, stumbling and groping, lost, and headed to hell. Before being quickened (made alive; Eph. 2:1), we were all among the dead who walked according to the world (Eph. 2:2-7).
Seven times, in Ephesians, this word, walk (meaning our manner of life), occurs.
THE WALKING DEAD (Eph. 2:1–2). In trespasses and sins, there is only death. How sad so many are alive physically, but dead, in sins, because of their manner of life. They walk in disobedience, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air. The good news is we do not have to be among them. We can walk in Christ, and live!
WALK–IN GOOD WORKS (Eph. 2:8-10). No longer dead, we are saved “unto good works,” by grace, through “the faith,” the gospel. This transformation is not by manmade faith (“not of yourselves”), for it did not originate with man. We now walk in good works, “created” by the new birth to a new life.
WALK–WORTHY (Eph. 4:1). Alive in Christ, we are to walk worthily of our vocation (calling). This godly walk is not just a trivial addition to a busy life, but a priority of the first magnitude, attended by attitudes of one washed and clean, and actions (good works) that glorify God.
WALK–NOT IN VANITY (Eph. 4:17). We are no longer the walking dead, for we have left worldliness behind. Someone said: “There is too much of the world in the church, and there is not enough of the church in the world.” The walking dead walk according to the course of this world, but although Christians “walk” in the world, they are not “of the world,” but different in their desires, deeds, and doctrine.
WALK–IN LOVE (Eph. 5:2). Redeemed, we have left being loveless, and lost. Now, love walks according to the Word of God, as a response to Christ’s love. He “hath given himself for us”; thus, we willingly sacrifice all to walk with Him.
WALK–IN LIGHT (Eph. 5:8). We are “light in the Lord,” having come out of darkness. Now, we walk in the glorious light of the gospel. Having seen the light, we follow Him who is light, and we walk as children of light. No light shines in the kingdom of darkness, where the spiritually dead walk.
WALK–IN WISDOM (Eph. 5:15). No longer dead, by our manner of life, and “as fools,” now we walk circumspectly, aware of the dangers, and tricks of Satan. Wise in our way of godly living, we walk confidently, calmly, and carefully. We must walk in wisdom, understanding we must never let down our guard when dealing with the evil one who seeks our souls.
Let us forsake the ranks of the “walking dead,” and walk in a direction that is always toward God.