To please God by faith

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. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:5-6 As described from the text, Enoch was a man of immense character. He was known also for what happened to him. “Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him” (Genesis 5:23-24). God took him to be with himself not like others who experienced death. Everyone mentioned in Genesis 5 except Enoch experienced physical death. We were not told how this happened and the only other person mentioned in the Bible that did not die and went directly to be with God was Elijah (see 2 Kings 2:1ff). What was highlighted in Enoch’s life was his persistent faith. This faith was described in Genesis 5:24, as having “close fellowship with God.” He lived his life in agreement with God. It is impossible to walk with somebody you are in constant disagreements with. “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3). If we want to walk in close fellowship with God, we have to be in agreement with what He wants for our life. Enoch lived his life in obedience to God’s will. It was before when God judged the world with flood that Enoch lived a life of faith. Instead of compromising his faith, he continued to walk with God while others remained in their sin. “Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world” (Jude 14-15). As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). It means that no matter what life brings to us in these days, we will never doubt God’s love because He has told us that He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). At times we try to justify our lack of faith! Inspite of the fact that God wants us to trust His promises yet we still doubt if He will keep them. When we are anxious because of the trials we are facing, we excuse our attitude by saying: “I am just a worrier!” Then instead of trusting God’s promise that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28), yet we justify our lack of faith by convincing ourselves that God could not possibly bring anything good out of this pain. Walking with God in close fellowship with Him means that we trust Him and His word. This is the faith He wants from us that pleases Him.

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman

www.my-wbc.com