And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Genesis 5:24
The story of Enoch keeps coming up, although not much about him in the bible, and really the above verse sums it all up. There are scriptures written either by him or about him, but they are not in the bible. They give a better idea of who this man Enoch was.
But this is the point, Enoch walked with God, he did not have a bible or man teacher or anything else to distract him from God. He knew God intimately, so much so he is one of only two men to ever not die and go to heaven. The second was the prophet Elijah who was taken up with Elisha looking on. This does not mean they were the most special in the eyes of God, because when Moses and Abraham appeared with Yeashua on the mount with the transfiguration, why would these two not be there also?
The point is it is not about favoritism, because each of God’s followers, the true believer, has a special place in the eyes of God.
But this is not the main point of the teaching to me today. It is about trying, versus doing. Again the verse came up to “not only be hearers of the word, but doers.” To find the narrow path is difficult, few find it. And the Lord reminded me about the different types of people, from atheists who do not believe in a God. To the ones who do but live their life randomly as if he did not exist. To the ones who are doing things to find God but doing them in a worldly way with worldly things like a “holy bible” which is not holy. Or men teachers in a church system.
Some of these men spend a great amount of time studying and listening to others tell them about who they think God is. But they never “walk with God!” You cannot know God through books, videos and other people. YOu need to learn who God is by knowing God himself. The way he reveals himself to us and teaches us is a very personal thing, and if you do not know him you miss out on the teachings you need. You will NEVER enter into the Kingdom by studying and hearing others. You only enter into the Kingdom by knowing and obedience to him.
Many times I have used my relationship with my son as a perfect example. We spend a lot of time with each other, he is with me now as I write this. Just the two of us. I know he loves me a lot, not because he tells me, which he does often. But because of his actions. He seeks me, to be with me. We talk and play together, and he is a good and obedient son. When he does something not good, I tell him and 99% of the time he says immediately “OK’ and does what I tell him to do. Once in a while I have to tell him more than once and or a spanking to remind him who is in charge. But he is an excellent son.
This is how it needs to be with you and the Lord. A relationship where you walk with him, hear him and when you are heading down the wrong road, stop when he tells you to stop. He means well for you, and he will not protect you from ever being exposed to evil things and evil people. But he will always be there to guide you through those difficult times. Those times are meant for growth, you cannot grow without a test.
My son would be happy to sit around all day on the computer and play things with me. But we make him do things like sports to keep him active. He would love to eat cake and ice cream all day after pizza and hamburgers. But we do not let him. There is a certain amount of discipline needed, and the test brings discipline.
If I raised my son the same way we raised my older kids, putting them in day care and school, hardly seeing them, then I know he would be a different young boy. If he only read about me and heard about me from other people who don’t even know me but only know about me from what they hear or read. It is obvious our relationship would be non-existent and my son would be a much different boy.
So if this makes sense to you how do you think it is any different with your Father and brother in heaven? God! He does speak to his sons if you seek him. And he does teach those who are hungry for truth and willing to obey him at all costs to themselves. Knowing that whatever he puts you through is for your good and the good of everyone, because what is right is right for everyone. Not just you. He is leading us to a glory that far outweighs anything we have to go through. And you will see him making you Holy and righteous, showing you a very simple life.
But are you seeking it? Or are you “trying” in other ways like the other religious people?