This is the first song I ever wrote as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ…nothing fancy by any stretch but it amazes me how that we knew so much of what was required of us while yet babes in Christ. Twenty-one years later, I feel we have only been learning what we’ve known all along, that faith is the key and substance of our walk with God, that we must come away from all carnal thought and participation in order to walk with God by faith and be pleasing to Him.
CHORUS (repeat after every verse):
You’ve gotta learn how to walk by faith,
you’ve gotta learn how to walk by faith,
You’ve gotta learn how to walk by faith,
if you’re ever gonna walk with the Lord.
VERSE 1
You can’t go by your own understanding;
do as He says and stop demanding;
You won’t understand so stop your figuring,
if you’re ever gonna walk with the Lord.
VERSE 2
You’ll have to say good-bye to all institutions,
carnal men’s creeds and all their traditions;
You’ll have to say good-bye to their doctrines and systems
if you’re ever gonna walk with the Lord.
VERSE 3
You’ve gotta say good-bye to mother and father;
if they won’t come with you then you just don’t bother;
Only those in Jesus will you call brother
if you’re ever gonna walk with the Lord.
VERSE 4
You can’t walk by your eyes and ears;
you’re gonna have to shake all your doubts and fears;
Be ready to accept heavy trials and tears
if you’re ever gonna walk with the Lord.
VERSE 5
The most important part of this wonderful story,
the part you must know if you’re to enter into glory,
Is if you start and finish, you’ll never be sorry,
if you put your trust in the Lord.
While traveling, 1975-Oct.’83
Related posts:
The world rushes headlong not only toward destruction but is there in destruction while it rushes. Priorities are confounded, based on gain and selfishness. Big is small and small is big. What is important and what is not? Is it not the "little things" that count? And has not the preacher said, "All is vanity" after firsthand experience of them?
This song was written in Israel when a future friend, Paul Cohen, to whom the Lord sent us to speak was confronted with a major decision. This decision had major implications for him either way. He took the right road only to come to many crossroads since.
We encountered an incident wherein religious people, friendly and all, counseled us to reconsider an undertaking we knew was the Lord's leading. We were learning that Satan's servants are ever there, with Bible under arm, God's praises on their lips, prepared to do battle "with love." The strange thing is that while I recall the Lord giving me what to say to these people, I do not recall what those words were, so occupied I was with learning another lesson.