THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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(Thanks Frank for the Joke)
A foursome of super-seniors came into the clubhouse after their golf game. The pro asked, "Well, gentlemen. How was your game today?"
The first man said, "Well, I had 4 riders today!"
The second man said, "I had 5 riders today!"
The third man said, "I had 7 riders today - same as yesterday!"
The fourth man said, "I had the most riders today - 12!"
The foursome went into the bathroom, and another golfer (who had overheard) approached the pro.
He said, "I've been playing golf 40 years and thought I knew ALL the terminology. WHAT is a rider?"
The pro said, "A rider is when you hit the ball far enough to get in the cart and ride to it."
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Gen 5:21-24
21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
KJV
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Adam lived, then died. Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared lived, then died.
Then Enoch is born. Into this genealogy of living and dying men is introduced a man who has special significance. It is said of Enoch that he "walked with God." In fact it is said TWICE (vs 22 and vs 24). It is said that Enoch lived. But it is not said that he died!
What is mentioned of Enoch is not mentioned of the others. Did not ALL before Enoch "walk with God?" Perhaps they all walked in faith with God. But it is mentioned of Enoch for special significance. He PLEASED God! Enoch was such a good walker he became a rider!
Enoch was different. Hebrews 11:5 says, "By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had translated him."
Enoch genuinely loved God and deliberately found meaning and purpose in fulfilling his being. He determinedly lived to love, adore, honor and obey God. THIS is the purpose for all mankind.
Even in the brevity of the statements about Enoch, there are tremendous implications to you and me:
Considering the first, shall we not fulfill God's purposes in our lives? Are we not the created serving the Creator? Shall we not submit to our loving Shepherd as sheep in His pasture?
Considering the second, does God not have the power to translate men today? Enoch and Elijah were carried from life into life without death. But Noah, Abraham, Samuel, Elisha, David, Peter, John, James, Paul, Stephen, et al, died. We must see that the purposes of God for ALL mankind are not the same. We are each created differently and are to fulfill God's purpose in our own lives. One of those purposes may be to present a testimony to God in our death!
Considering the third, should we not live with a goal of walking so close to God that one day He says, "Why don't you just come on up here and continue your walk eternally?"
How's YOUR walk with God today?
Love ya,
Bruce