How We Walk Matters
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
My family would definitely tell you that I was directionally challenged growing up. I couldn’t remember how to get anywhere to save my life. And when I was a high school and early college student, there were no iPhones or easily accessible GPS to rescue me.
I still remember the first day my dad dropped me off at college at Moody Bible Institute in downtown Chicago. After helping me move into my dorm, he left to drive back to Minnesota. Suddenly, I was on my own—not only adjusting to new surroundings, but realizing I needed a few things from the store. So I decided to walk to the local Walgreens.
I wasn’t more than a block away from campus before I felt completely lost. The tall buildings rising on either side of me were unfamiliar and disorienting. Every direction looked the same. I wasn’t sure which way I had come from or where I was supposed to go. I can still remember the subtle panic that quickly welled up inside me—that sinking feeling of realizing I had no idea if I was headed the right way.
Thankfully, I wasn’t actually far from campus. Within a few minutes, I retraced my steps, found the store, and made it back safely. But the experience stayed with me. Because it’s amazing how quickly uncertainty creeps in when you lose your sense of direction. That moment has come back to me many times—not because of geography, but because of life.
Our culture is obsessed with the clock. Deadlines. Productivity. Speed. Efficiency. We measure our lives in accomplishments and output. We ask, “How much did I get done?” or “How far ahead am I?” But very few of us stop to ask a more important question: “Am I headed in the right direction?”
The clock tells you how fast you’re moving.
The compass tells you where you’re going.
You can move quickly and still be completely lost.
A thoughtfully established life is less about speed and more about direction. It’s about ensuring the major areas of your life are aligned with the gospel before you accelerate further. Because moving faster in the wrong direction only gets you lost more quickly.
Walk In Him
A thoughtfully established life starts with being rooted and built up in the gospel. That is exactly what Paul reminded believers of when he wrote:
“Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” Colossians 2:6-7 (NASB).
It’s easy to say that living intentionally matters. Most people would agree in principle. But as Christians, we can leave these ideas in the abstract. We affirm that the gospel changes everything—but what does that actually look like in our homes, our work, our relationships, and our daily rhythms? In reality, walking in Him is often ordinary. It’s expressed in the small, faithful ways we carry out our responsibilities—how we care for our homes, nurture our families, engage in our work, and steward our bodies.
For a long time, I felt unsure when people asked me to share my testimony. I couldn’t remember the exact moment I accepted Christ—my parents say I was four—but I have no memory of it. In sixth grade, I recommitted my life to Jesus, and for years that was the heart of what I shared. It felt simple—maybe too simple. Honestly, I thought it was a little boring. But I’ve come to realize that our testimony is not just a single spiritual milestone. It’s the ongoing story of how the gospel transforms us over time. Yes, the moment of salvation matters—but so does the day-by-day work of God shaping our hearts. Our testimony grows as we walk with Him.
Many Christians treat the gospel as a past event—something that happened when they were saved. But the gospel is not merely a historical fact to believe; it is a lens through which we live. It shapes how we see our relationships, our pain, our purpose, and our responsibilities. To live a gospel-centered life, we must understand the full gospel narrative—and apply it to every area of life.
A New Perspective
Eyeglasses (in all shapes and forms) are more than a stylish accessory—they literally change how we see the world. Sunglasses shield us from overwhelming brightness, while prescription lenses bring clarity to blurred vision. In the same way, the gospel needs to be more than just a story we believe - it needs to be the lens through which we are meant to view every part of life. It needs to change our perspective of the world.
When we truly grasp the full gospel story, it changes how we see everything—from our daily routines to our deepest struggles. The gospel becomes a lens that reframes how we interpret the world and our place in it. Through the storyline of creation, brokenness, and redemption, we begin to understand both the beauty and the pain of life in a new light.
Before we can view life through the lens of the gospel, we need to understand the full scope of the gospel story. It’s not just about a moment of salvation—it’s the sweeping narrative of God’s redemptive plan. It begins with creation, moves through humanity’s fall, unfolds in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and continues through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. It ultimately points to the future restoration of all things in God’s eternal kingdom. When we grasp this bigger picture, we begin to see how every part of our lives can align with God’s purposes and participate in His work of redemption.
Creation:
It all begins with God’s original design. When we look at any area of life—a relationship, a job, a dream, even our identity—we can start by asking, “What did God intend this to be when He created it?” His design was perfect: full of peace, order, joy, intimacy, and purpose. Relationships were meant to reflect love and unity. Work was designed to be fulfilling and meaningful. Even our emotions and desires were meant to align with His goodness. Understanding creation helps us long for what’s right and good. It gives us a vision of wholeness, a reference point for what life should be.
God created everything good. The world began in wholeness—no pain, no sin, no brokenness. We were designed to live in harmony with God, others, and creation. That original design reveals God’s intention for beauty, purpose, and peace.
Fall (Brokenness):
But we don’t live in Eden anymore. Every day, we see and feel the effects of sin. That original design has been deeply fractured—by our choices and by the broken world around us. Sin distorts what God created to be good. Brokenness shows up in countless forms: the pain of betrayal in a relationship, the weariness of a job that drains instead of fulfills, the ache of insecurity or shame, the reality of illness or loss. Sometimes, it’s the result of our own sinful choices. Other times, it's the collateral damage from someone else’s sin. And often, it’s simply the cost of living in a fallen world.
But sin entered the world through disobedience, and everything changed. Brokenness now touches every corner of life. It shows up in our personal failures, in the suffering we see around us, and in the pain others inflict. No matter how it appears, sin always leads to separation—from God and from one another. This brokenness manifests in three ways:
General brokenness – the suffering that comes from living in a fallen world (e.g., sickness, death).
Specific brokenness – the consequences of our personal sin.
Collateral brokenness – the pain caused by others’ sin.
Naming this brokenness matters. When we recognize how far things have fallen from God’s original design, we begin to hunger for healing. And more importantly, we’re reminded that the brokenness we see is not the final word.
Redemption:
But God did not leave us in our brokenness. Through Jesus Christ—His life, death, and resurrection—God made a way to restore what was lost. As 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 says: “Christ died for our sins... he was buried... he was raised on the third day.” Redemption is more than just our personal salvation. It’s about God’s plan to renew all of creation—and through Christ, we get to be part of that ongoing work.
This is where hope enters. The gospel tells us that God didn’t leave us in our brokenness—He stepped into it. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, God made a way to redeem what was lost. Redemption doesn’t just mean rescue—it means restoration. God is actively working to bring beauty from ashes, to make all things new. Every time a relationship is healed, every moment of forgiveness, every act of justice or compassion is a glimpse of that restoration. When an addict finds freedom, when a parent and child reconcile, when a community chooses unity over division—these are not just good moments. They are signs of the kingdom of God breaking in.
And while full restoration is still to come, we live in the already-but-not-yet—experiencing glimpses of redemption now while waiting in hope for the day when all things will be fully restored. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
Looking at life through the lens of the gospel gives us more than understanding—it gives us hope and purpose. It helps us make sense of pain, recognize beauty, and remember that life is not ultimately about us. We are part of something bigger: God’s redemptive work in the world.
So next time you put on your glasses, remember: the gospel is your truest lens. It brings clarity. It reshapes your vision. And it reveals the beauty of God’s story unfolding all around you. It how we thoughtfully establish every area of life.