Walking With God – Just like John DeWalt did all his life !

Walking With God –

Pastor Calvin Cook

February 23, 2026

Scripture: Genesis 5:21-24 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.  Altogether Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Last week I prepared for a celebration of life and a eulogy for John DeWalt. John was a great man of faith who lived and walked what he believed. He did more than walk faithfully, John walked everywhere. A few miles in the morning, a few in the evening along with riding his bicycle. John became known as the walking and waving guy of Kane.

I desired to honor John’s life by the words of how he loved, took care of, and cherished his wife Natalie for 66 years. John raised a family and leaves a legacy that should speak for years to come.  As I thought and picked the words carefully, I wanted to live up to the expectations that John had made for his celebration of life. Yes, he told me what he wanted shared with the main part being about a relationship with God and knowing Jesus as the way the truth and the life.  

Just as God through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, direction and guidance was given in some of the most unusual ways. One of the ways being that this very powerful and often read past scripture about the life of Enoch was brought to life through a devotional Gail reads every morning. As Gail shared this devotional, I knew that this scripture had to be the core of the eulogy simply stated – “Enoch believed in God, trusted God, did everything with God’s guidance, walked faithfully, walked faithfully with God – (walked faithfully mentioned twice in these verses) because of this, when Enoch was no more, he was with God, because God took him away.”

What we sometimes assume—though we do not have the mind of God and never will on this side of eternity—is that if we walk faithfully with God, trusting Him after that life-changing moment of accepting Jesus and becoming followers of the Way, we will never doubt or be pulled by the waves of the world and its mess.

But walking with God does not mean we never struggle. It means we keep walking—regardless.…… regardless !!!!

Then once again the Holy Spirit speaks – as I wrote the words and gathered my thoughts for the eulogy through deep prayer, as I listened – the following words became more like guidance and direction for the rest of my life and the life that is to come that is hoped for.

These words are written in my journal as the I felt the Holy Spirit’s direction on steps we must all take to live a life of walking with God:

1. We have to start ! We must be willing to say yes ! Mostly we don’t start – we make excuses, we delay, we wait for the perfect time, or we start and quickly stop because the journey is to hard. 
2. We don’t remain steadfast and faithful. If faith is the substance and assurance of things hoped for (Hebrews 1), why do we struggle? What is the definition of substance and what substance drives us, what is fueling us ?  When our agenda is to follow Jesus to walk with God it must be priority.
3. We don’t know why we are doing what we are doing or what we are allowing to lead us, or the greatest relationship we can ever have is with God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, especially by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior and allowing his saving grace to change us through forgiveness that leads to redemption.

The Saving Grace of Jesus is the only way!  

As I pause this morning – the Holy Spirit is still speaking. In all that I am going through: mourning, grief, lost relationships, disappointments, struggles, life decisions, defending my mind, heart, and importantly my soul against the attacks of Satan and his evil spirits. The struggle of heart, mind, body, and soul to completely guide me through surrendering to the good and perfect will of God. The need, the requirement to walk with God through it all, through every obstacle, through every storm, through every moment of joy and celebration, through everything without fail, every day and in every way.  I would add that is the Jesus way, that was the John DeWalt way, and that must be our way – or …………………..

I heard often over the last few days, “there will only be one John DeWalt”. True words never spoken. But… there will also only be one you. So, what about you? How are you walking with God?