Walking with Jesus

Following Directions

Pastor Calvin Cook
July 18, 2026 — Day 10 of 40

Scripture: “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.” — Genesis 5:21–24

I recently purchased a new, state-of-the-art air conditioner, fan—or maybe half gimmick. I was excited when it arrived on one of the hottest days of the summer. I unpacked it, looked it over, and thought it seemed simple enough. I plugged it in, turned it on, and all I could get was more warm air. That was certainly not what I was looking for!

I turned to a friend and asked if he would take a look at it. To my chagrin, later that day it was blowing cold air. What was the difference?

He took the time to read the directions.

At the same time, a dozen other things were going on in my life—projects half completed, plans waiting to begin, and ideas and aspirations still sitting on the shelf. Every time I tried to finish something, I became distracted by something else that needed my attention.

While thinking about how to have a better walk with Jesus—and searching through my massive collection of documents for something I had misplaced—I came across a eulogy I had written some time ago for my friend John DeWalt.

As I read it, I was amazed by how the Holy Spirit brought several roads and trails together into one common thought:

Read the directions!

That eulogy centered on the life of Enoch in Genesis 5:21–24. The Scripture tells us twice in these few verses that Enoch “walked faithfully with God.” Enoch trusted God, followed God’s guidance, and lived his life in fellowship with God. Then Enoch was no more, because God took him away.

We sometimes assume that if we walk faithfully with God—if we accept Jesus and become followers of the Way—we will never doubt, struggle, or be pulled by the waves of this world and its mess.

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

Regardless!

As I remembered writing that eulogy, I remembered striving for perfection. I prayed deeply, gathered my thoughts, and listened. The words that came seemed to be more than something intended for a funeral. They became guidance and direction for the rest of my life—and for the life to come for which I hope.

This morning, I returned to that place. I stopped speaking, thinking, strategizing, plotting, and planning. I simply became present with Jesus—“sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening,” like Mary in Luke 10:39–42. I remembered again that being with Jesus is the one thing truly needed.

I returned to my journal, where I had written three instructions for walking with Jesus. These words came through the Holy Spirit’s direction—but the question remains: Will I listen and follow?

Just a few months after writing them, I had already forgotten. Then the Holy Spirit nudged me while I was searching for something completely unrelated. That is what the Holy Spirit so often does: He brings us back to the center of where we need to be.

Here are the three instructions:

1. We have to start.

We must be willing to say yes. Too often, we make excuses, delay, wait for the perfect time, or begin and quickly stop because the journey becomes difficult. But no journey can continue until we are willing to take the first step.

2. We must remain steadfast and faithful.

Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” What substance is driving us? What is fueling our lives? If our desire is to follow Jesus and walk with God, then He must become our priority—not merely one more item on our list.

3. We must remember why—and with whom—we are walking.

Sometimes we do not know why we are doing what we are doing or what we are allowing to lead us. The greatest relationship we can ever have is with God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It begins by receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior and allowing His saving grace to transform us through forgiveness, redemption, and new life.

This morning, I would add one more instruction that fits into our call to Know, Grow, and Go:

Be willing to share.

Share by worshiping with others. Talk about Jesus with a friend. Go deeper into reading and studying Scripture. Devote yourself to prayer and fellowship with other believers. Hold tightly to the teachings of Jesus—and then live them before the world.

The directions have been given. The question question is whether we will take the time to read them, trust them, and follow them.

Until next time—

Keep walking with Jesus.