Today there was an unbelievable appointment which shook not only this chap but also the then known world in which he lived. He must have been the talk of the town for weeks!
His name is Enoch and what an appointment he had.
It was by faith that Enoch was taken to heaven so he would not die. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. Before he was taken, the Scripture says that he was a man who truly pleased God. Without faith, no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him. Hebrews 11:5-6 NCV
Of course, it is a similarity to how one day all those who follow Jesus will have the same appointment. (Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) To many of us, it is a day that cannot come too soon, but that is another story.
Very little is written about Enoch in the Bible, and yet, God placed him in the chapter of great men and women of faith in Hebrews 11. Enoch’s life caught God’s attention.
Take time to study his life, then look at your own. Consider how God would sum up your life today. A prayer response might be “Lord, open my eyes and heart that I might learn what it means to walk with you. Help me to identify areas in my life that hinder my walk. I desire to be pleasing to you in all that I say and do.”
So what made God do this unique appointment? Well, when we look at Hebrews 11:5-6 two things stand out faith and pleasing. It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying. “He disappeared because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.
- Joshua, we found out obeyed God and had victory
- David, we said yesterday had a heart for God
- Enoch pleased God.
Enoch was pleasing to God. What is required of us in order to please God? The answer is faith. Why is it impossible to please Him without it? We have to believe in who we have put our trust in.
Take an example of a bus with a sign saying that it’s going where you are going, but you have to get on the bus. As soon as you do, faith has been put in action. What is the progression of getting to the place of pleasing God? God is pleased when we get on the bus if we take the bus as Jesus as in this example. So first step come to Him.
Then we must be looking to seek Him. Verse 6 tells us that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. What does it mean to seek the Lord? To desire what He wants to do in our lives, then do it.
How does God reward those who seek Him? He draws nearer to us and we have intimacy and fellowship.
Let me leave you with a great story I read. Ann Graham Lotz apparently asks God in December what God would like Ann to give Him for His birthday. Seems odd, not really. After all, we all give presents to those we love on their birthday, don’t we? Ann has never failed to hear God say something that He would like Ann to give Him, so well done Ann. What a great way to please God.
What do we know about Enoch? He did not die for God took Him.
Remember, like Enoch, one day we will just be going about our business and then puff we will like Enoch be gone from this earth and it will be too late to please God. So take time out now to ask what you could do to please God today?
Stay safe and Blessed