Articles
HE WALKED WITH ME
In the Scriptures we find two men who must have had a special relationship with God; Noah, and Enoch. It is said about them they, WALKED WITH GOD. (Genesis 6:9; Genesis 5:24).
Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methusaleh, and he had other sons and daughters. And Enoch walked with God; and HE WAS NOT, for God took him. " (Genesis 5:22,24)
"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was PLEASING TO GOD." (Hebrews 11:5)
"But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. These are the records of generations of Noah, Noah was A RIGHTEOUS MAN, BLAMELESS IN HIS TIME; NOAH WALKED WITH GOD." (Genesis 6:8,9)
"By faith, NOAH, being warned by God about things not yet seen, IN REVERENCE prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and BECAME AN HEIR OF THE RIGHEOUSNESS WHICH IS ACCORDING TO FAITH." (Hebrews 11:7)
May I suggest several observations we can make about both these men: BOTH HAD UNCOMPROMISING FAITH AND TRUST IN THE LORD
BOTH KEPT GOD FIRST PLACE IN THEIR LIVES BOTH HAD GREAT RESPECT AND REVERENCE FOR GOD
In the Hebrew letter it tells us, BOTH MEN, BY FAITH, were able to please God. Not just a halfhearted faith, but a WHOLE HEARTED FAITH; One which came from the heart. Notice in Genesis chapter six, Noah did ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE LORD HAD COMMANDED HIM. (Genesis 6:22; Genesis 7:5)
To please God is to do His will; listen to His commandments, and obey them, just as these men did. Jesus says in Matthew chapter 7 verse 21:
"Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord: will enter the kingdom of heaven; but HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER, who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)
Even Jesus Himself, while on earth, submitted to the Father's will. Remember the time He prayed in the Garden the cup might pass from him and He not have to go through that terrible time; but He ended the conversation with "NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE". Are we willing to do the same?
Please let me finish with a passage from Paul to the Romans. He tells them (and us) how we can be pleasing to the Father, and obey the plan He sent by way of His Son for our salvation.
"But now apart from the Law (old Law) the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets; even the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST FOR ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE; for there is no distinction for ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, being justified as A GIFT BY HIS GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through FAITH. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who HAS FAITH IN JESUS." (Romans 3:21-26)
FAITH IN GOD, AND HIS WORD has always been the way for man to have and maintain a relationship with God, and be pleasing to Him. Even though times have changed, God never does. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Read 1 Peter 1 verses 22-25. BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ABIDES FOREVER. What a wonderful compliment to have God say, HE WALKED WITH ME.
Ross
