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In Genesis 5 we
have the genealogy from Adam to Noah. Enoch was the seventh generation. What
is said about him is unique. Genesis 5:24 records, “and Enoch walked with
God; and he was not; for God took him.” Enoch is mentioned again in Hebrews
11:5, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he
was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to
him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God.” The
prophecy of Enoch recorded in Jude 14,15 is all the additional information
we have about this man, but obviously to walk with God, to talk for God, and
then go to be with God forever is all the record we need to leave.
The apostle Paul
leaves us this testimony in Romans 2:4, “or despisest thou the riches of His
goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of
God leads you to repentance.” What an impact God has on our lives! His
person is all we need to lead us to repentance. See 2 Peter 3:9.
We believe in
God by the testimony of His word (Romans 10:17). Then faith gives us
assurance of what we hope for, a conviction of things not seen (Hebrews
11:1). Such faith brings these assurances:
Hebrews 11:3
– that God framed the worlds by His word
Hebrews 11:4
– that Abel offered a sacrifice that pleased God
Hebrews 11:5
- that Enoch was translated never to see death
Hebrews 11:6
– that we must have faith to please God
Hebrews 11:7
– that Noah built an ark to save his family
Hebrews 11:8
– that Abraham went to Canaan and saw the land his descendants
would receive
Hebrews 11: 9
– Abraham became a sojourner in that land
Hebrews 11:10
– Abraham looked for God’s city (See Revelation 21:1-7)
Hebrews 11:11
– Sarah bore a son in her old age
Hebrews
11:17-19 – Abraham’s faith led him to believe in the resurrection
Faith in God
can lead us to a life with God! A life with God brings us blessings
comparable to the above. When we believe in God, we do what God tells us to
do. Then we have every assurance from God that we will receive His
blessings.
In earlier
Web pages we explored “spiritual life” with God. How that life enriched our
experiences while we live in God’s world. God has both conditional and
unconditional gifts for us when we receive the Holy Spirit at baptism.
Review Acts 2:38, 5:32, and Romans 8:9-17.
There are
more blessings for us as we continue to live our lives with God. God’s first
spiritual blessings make us rich in faith (James 2:5 and Romans 10:12). In
our next few Web pages I want to explore with you how our life with God adds
more riches to those we have.
Harvey
Childress, servant of Jesus Christ |
