Walking with God.

One of my favourite Old Testament characters is Enoch, the father of the better-known Methuselah, of whom it is written: "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." (Gen.5:24).  I believe that those words are telling us that, every morning, when Enoch awoke, his first words were “Well, Lord, where are we going today; what will we be doing?”  And the Lord told him.  Then, one day he awoke and, having asked the same question, was told by God, “Today, Enoch, dear friend, you are coming to my bit.  Let’s go!”  And Enoch simply walked through the veil that separates time from eternity – a veil that is so fine that it makes gossamer look thick and heavy by comparison; but a veil that is so strong, that not even the combined force of all of the world’s nuclear weapons could even dent it.

There are, I would suggest, three questions that we may legitimately ask about Enoch - the answers to which can apply to you and to me today.

The first question is "When did Enoch walk with God?"  We discover that it was during a most evil time in the history of mankind.   A great-grandson of Enoch was a man named Noah and, by his time, "YHWH saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Gen. 6:5).  As I read, watch, and listen to, our contemporary news reports, I see a similar world today.  I see cruelty; I see greed; I see fraud and deceit; I see wickedness in high places; I see men with men, and women with women, in unnatural relationships; I see rebelliousness against God in what could be unprecedented measure.  In a word or two, I see sin rampant in society in every part of the world.  I see a world that is ripe for a similar judgement as that exercised against the generation of Noah.  For Enoch, it was a difficult time to maintain fellowship with God - yet it was also a time when the importance of "walking with God" cannot be over-emphasised.  The same, I would contend, applies to us.

 Our second question could be "Where did Enoch walk with God?"  It was on this same planet Earth that we inhabit - an Earth filled with violence; an Earth that is well described by those words already quoted.  Yet it was in the midst of such a world; in the midst of a decaying, immoral, godless, generation that Enoch enjoyed this fellowship with Father God.  Did he realise that such fellowship; such sweet communion; was his only defence against the moral, social, and spiritual pollution that surrounded him?   I would contend that this is our only defence in the world of today!

Thirdly, we may ask "Why did Enoch walk with God?"  Could it be that he was aware that judgement was near?  Could it be that he was looking for God to act?  Could it be that he knew that only divine intervention could deal with the world that was around him?  We are informed that "... Enoch in the seventh generation from Adam prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with his holy myriads, to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness which they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (Jude 14-15).  In other words, he warned his contemporaries about the judgement that would befall them if they continued in their sinful ways.  Are we warning those in whose midst we live, in the same way?

"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God." (Heb 11:5).  By faith in what, or whom?  You see, the amount of our faith is of little importance (see Matt.17:20).  The object of our faith is what matters.  Enoch's faith was in the One with Whom he had walked for as long as he could remember.  Where is your faith?  Where is mine?  Are we "walking with the Lord"?  Are we expecting His imminent return?

Those who walk most closely with Him, and who work hardest for Him, watch most for Jesus' return!

Advent.

Sunday, as many will be aware, was the First Sunday of Advent - the season in the Christian calendar during which we prepare to celebrate the miracle of the Incarnation.  That miracle is explained, as succinctly as is possible, by the name given through the prophet Isaiah, and reiterated - and defined -  by the apostle Matthew: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel (which means, God with us)." (Matt 1:23; cf Is.7:14).


But can we unpick that definition a little more?  What does Matthew mean by "God with us"?  Well, the easy understanding is that, in the Persona (see the chapter on the "Trinity" in my book, Great Words of the Faith; - details at top of page) of the Son, Almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer of all that is; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the great "I AM"; took upon Himself human flesh, and entered the very time-space continuum that He had created.  I am reminded of that great saint of the Old Covenant, Enoch.  I make reference to one of my favourite Old Testament characters in "Great Words", where I write:

"Remember the great old patriarch, Enoch?  I love those words recorded of him in Gen.5:23-24 – “Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.” Or, as the older translations put it, “... he was not; for God took him.” (KJV).

So what happened to Enoch?  Well, what I am now going to share is, I confess, totally speculative.  But I share it with you because I am convinced, not only of its possibility, but of its probability!  I believe that those words are telling us that, every morning, when Enoch awoke, his first words were “Well, Lord, where are we going today; what will we be doing?”  And the Lord told him.  Then, one day, he awoke and, having asked the same question, was told by God, “Today, Enoch, dear friend, you are coming to my place.  Let’s go!”  And Enoch simply walked through that ultra-fine veil that separates time from eternity."   

Enoch knew the reality of "Emmanuel" - God with us!

But "Emmanuel" doesn't just refer to the presence of God; it also refers to the purpose of God.  You see, He came among us not as some cosmic experiment, but for a definite, and specific, reason.  He came, so that He could live among us; experience all that we experience ("yet without sin": see Hebrews 4:15); and, at the end, take upon Himself the punishment that we deserve - bearing "... our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness." (I Peter 2:24).  He came in order that sinful people like us could know His eternal pardon - and His eternal life!


Christmas is the time, for so many, when gifts are given and received.  Indeed, for too many in the western world, that is now all that it is!  Yet the majority will ignore the greatest Gift of all - salvation through faith in the Lord, Jesus the Christ: an act of divine grace that we can never, ever deserve.
The Gift is available to all.  However, like any gift, it may be rejected. 

It would be my longing that all who read this post would accept that Gift.  If anyone requires further, more personal, help then please feel free to contact me using the e-mail address at the top of the page.  I only check that one a couple of times each week, but I shall respond.  Alternatively, there are some useful links in the right-hand margin of the blog.

Following Jesus.

As those who know me well are aware, I believe that the term 'Christian' has been so badly devalued - at least in the 'developed' west - that it has become close to meaningless.  Nowadays, I usually refer to 'disciples of Jesus' instead.

However, in the earliest days of the church, those people were often known simply as 'followers of the Way'.  In the Greek language of the New Testament, there are a number of words for 'following' each of which has a slightly different meaning from the rest.  Three of them are: 'akoloutheo', 'epakoloutheo', and 'parakoloutheo' (you can see the common root!).  So what are the differences?

'akoloutheo' suggests following - but at a distance.  This, sadly, is the way in which many, today, follow Jesus.  They are not very close to Him; indeed, they may be a long way off.  Have you ever watched a film in which the police are 'tailing' the car of a suspect?  The first thing they must be certain of is that the suspect doesn't become suspicious.  However, equally important is that they don't allow themselves to get too far behind, as then they may lose sight of their target!  If we follow Jesus at too great a distance, we run the danger of doing the same thing - of losing sight of Him!  It is possible for so many things to come between Him and us.  We may be taken up by so many things that are not bad in themselves, but that gradually destroy the passion of our first love for the Lord.  His Lordship in our lives becomes secondary.   He is a distant figure Whom we are following, but with Whom we have lost any real relationship.

The second word, 'epakoloutheo', is more intimate.  It means 'to follow close to a person'.  It has the idea of being so close as to be walking in the person's footsteps.   I know that we are officially into spring-time (at least in the northern hemisphere!), but I find myself thinking of the Christmas song, 'Good King Wenceslas'.  Remember that verse that tells us that the king encouraged his servant to walk in his footsteps so that he would not be as cold?  That's the sort of picture that 'epakoloutheo' paints for us.

Then there is 'parakoloutheo'.  This is the most intimate word of all.  It means to be following someone so closely that one is walking alongside the other person.  It suggests companionship, rather than servanthood.  In John 15:15, we read these recorded words of the Lord Jesus to His closest disciples: "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends , for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."

I wonder, is this what the Lord is saying to many of us today?  "Don't walk at a distance; don't even walk closely behind me; walk beside me. Be My companion on the way; share the road with Me; allow Me to share more and more of Myself with you!"  I love the Old Testament saint, Enoch, of whom it is recorded: "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." (Gen 5:24).  Enoch walked so closely with the Lord that, when his time on earth was over, he just walked through the veil into eternity. (see my book, Great Words of the Faith).

Where are you walking, today, in relation to Jesus?   Are you merely following Him at a distance, sometimes losing sight of Him completely?  Or perhaps you are walking just a little behind Him, but still missing some of what He would say to you!   Why don't you come alongside Him, and enjoy His presence day by day?  It will be for your own good, and will bring glory to His Name.

Time, and Eternity (1)

One of the online groups to which I belong is for those with a theological interest!  Now that I am once again able to be online more regularly, I have been ploughing through hundreds of e-mails, including one from that group regarding God's knowledge of all of history.

I have already suggested that a major part of the answer lies in the relationship between time and eternity.  Earlier this year, I preached a message on "Biblical veils", that ended up with some references to that relationship.  I plan to share that final point over the next few days, in a series of posts.  Be sure to return for the rest of them!

That final point concerned the veil that will be reached when we come to the end of our mortal lives.   I have given much thought to this over recent years.  Not that I am becoming particularly morbid!  It’s just that the Lord seems to be giving me little insights.

I recently learned of a material called graphene which, I am assured, is only one atom in thickness.  That means that, by comparison, the finest gossamer is like extra-heavy brocade!  I believe, firmly, that what separates time from eternity is finer again even than graphene, yet of a strength that even if every nuclear device possessed by mankind was to be detonated simultaneously, there would not be even the slightest dent in, or the faintest scratch on, that particular veil.

So what happens at the moment of physical death?  Well, for the disciple of Jesus, the answer is simple.   Paul tells us, in II Cor 5:8 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  Jesus, Himself assured the penitent thief on the cross that “... today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43).  So it doesn’t seem to be the case that, when I die – and this is all, of course, only applicable for as long as the rapture of the saints of God is delayed – it doesn’t seem to be the case that I travel millions of light years to reach my celestial abode!  No, it’s as instantaneous as it will be at the rapture when, Paul tells us, “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown.” (I Cor 15:52).

We find further hints of this when we look in the O.T.  Remember the great old patriarch, Enoch.  I love those words recorded of him in Gen 5: “Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.” Or, as the older translations put it, “... he was not; for God took him.” (vs 23-24)

So what happened to Enoch?  Well, what I am now going to share is, I freely confess, somewhat speculative.  But I share it with you because I am convinced, not only of its possibility, but of its probability!  I believe that those words are telling us that, every morning, when Enoch awoke, his first words were “Well, Lord, where are we going today; what will we be doing?”  And that's a good way for any of us to start the day!  And the Lord told him.  Then, one day, he awoke and, having asked the same question, was told by God, “Today, Enoch, dear friend, you are coming to my bit.  Let’s go!”  And Enoch simply walked through that veil that separates time from eternity.

(to be continued!).