Walk With God

I have heard my brother-in-law, who is a very convincing preacher, exclaim from the pulpit, “You aren’t getting out of here alive”. He is not referring to leaving the chapel after the sermon to have lunch. With the exception of the return of Jesus to escort the redeemed to heaven, he is correct. It would appear that there is only one way out of this life. Since the believer is assured heaven on the other side of the door, there is little to fear except the manner of death, which may be difficult or indeed may be quick and painless. I am intrigued; however, by the accounts in the Bible which describe the ascension to heaven by two individuals who do not suffer through the process of death. Elijah, a very aggressive and faithful prophet who fought against idol worship at great peril to himself, was taken to heaven by a whirlwind. I can only theorize after the reading of the story that Elijah was transported directly to heaven as a reward for remarkable service to God. There was no doubt that his faith and his demonstration of it was a minute to minute example for the rest of us. We read in 2Kings 2:11

11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

The second example is the one of Enoch. Enoch was the seventh generation descendent of Adam. Little is told to us about him except that, after his son Methuselah was born, he walked with God for three hundred years. Then in Genesis 5:24 we read the very sparse and concise statement, the significance of which, is easily lost in a quick reading.

24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Just what does it mean to “walk with God”? To me it suggests a relationship that goes very much beyond the attendance of church on Sunday. The Amplified Bible translates it as “habitual fellowship”. That would involve, I am sure, allowing God into virtually every facet of your life. It would mean the continual talking and listening to God through prayer. It would mean the keeping of short accounts with the Lord in respect to committed and confessed sin. In the New Testament times it would include, no doubt, keeping the Word of God ever before you. It would also mean obeying Jesus and living as the Son of God set out for us while he was on this earth.

I am greatly humbled by this short account of Enoch. As hard as I try, I have difficulty walking with God for a whole day. I get up the next morning and try again. I suspect that my experience is that of the vast majority. We try and we fail and then we try some more. Enoch walked with God one hundred and nine thousand and five hundred (109, 500) days, not taking into account leap years. He walked with God never slipping for three hundred years! This is a man who I admire. The good news is that I will still get to meet Enoch in heaven. It is likely, unless Jesus returns to this world, that I will get there through the conventional route, but I am assured by the Son of God that I will indeed make it there despite my less than perfect record.

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