10/12/2017
Do you walk with God, or yearn to walk with Him? How close is your relationship, and how desperately do you seek His presence? In your desire for salvation and eternal life do you place those goals above loving God? If so, do you realize that there will never be a quiet stroll through the garden, or a conversation spent speaking without having to utter a word?
“When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”
Genesis 5:21-24 ESV
I live beside a beautiful city park in Nashville, and on occasion I watch older couples as they walk arm in arm with one another. For the most part they don’t speak, but the emotional bond they share shouts to me as I enjoy the vision of their loving relationship. Love is that way; the stronger it gets the less it has to be advertised, and the more obvious it is... we become ever more one, and abandon our individuality.
Soft, oh so soft, are the moments spent with someone you love. A touch that in your youth was so boldly sensual, and often about you, becomes much gentler and reaches quietly into the heart as a relationship matures. For the young this is something to look forward to, and for the old it is comfortable reality.
Our faith settles in over the years and the peace promised us becomes a reality. This is the evidence of a walk with God. It isn’t flamboyant or outlandish, just calm and certain of itself. It reminds me of an old hymn that I have sung all my life “Rock of Ages” and the calm assurance of that hymn’s melody and lyrics. It isn’t stirring or performed in a rock n roll type beat or words... it is a prayer written in 1763, and, once set to music, it became a hymn for all ages... it settles our spirit for another day’s walk.
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.” - Augustus M. Toplady
Enoch walked with God... this isn’t a bold proclamation, but a simple statement of fact, and at the end of His life of faith he wasn’t whisked away in a flaming chariot as lightning streaked across the sky, and the entire heavenly host sang in the background, but rather, he walked away with God in quiet assurance “he was not.”
We are all different, some of us enjoy solitude, others the hustle bustle of loud crowds; some of us like walks in the park and others desire to dance to a driving beat. Enoch walked with God and then “he was not.” Yet, Elijah completed his time on earth in bold fashion...
“And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”
2 Kings 2:11 ESV
However we chose to be in relationship with God, whether during a quiet walk where our souls intertwine, or amidst a brisk jog in the park as we talk in pants with each stride... the object is not simply eternal life, but an eternal life of loving God. In all cases, we should one day find we can’t separate who we are from who He is.
It is easy to lose sight of the difference and to find ourselves knowing who God is, but not sharing a relationship with Him. If we don’t spend time walking, jogging, or even dancing with Him, then our life of faith is sacrificed. Without spending our days with Him we will never be able to reach that place where we can speak without words, run in stride with Him, or dance in perfect synchronization across the dance floor. Whether we are like Enoch or Elijah, the goal is to join Him in eternity so that our relationship knows no end.
I am a quiet man, and lean towards solitude; perhaps you are inclined to waltz, or jog through life... whoever we are, we should be that person as we serve God and spend our time with Him. In this way our relationship proceeds and we draw closer to Him.
For me I long to see Jesus, and stand with Him before God. For me I look forward to the quiet walks in the garden in the cool of the evening. For me I hear the final verse of “Rock of Ages”, and long to hide myself in Him.
“While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.” - Augustus M. Toplady
Prayer:
Father I thank you for the walk I have with you, and the day by day growth of our relationship. Be with me always Father, and never let go my hand. Let me be at peace beside you until at last I am no more, and we are together for eternity. Help me Lord to love thee more, and find my comfort evermore restful in your presence. Guide me as I traverse this life and be with me always as I approach each trial and crossroads it presents. As my days here grow short let me hear myself speak and ask of myself... “Is that you Jesus?” Holy Father my desire is to be more and more like you each day. My dream of faith is to realize that I am truly created in your image and have learned to recognize the family resemblance. Father, I thank you for your grace and mercy; I thank you for the love you have for me and the desire you have to walk together with me. You are my God, my Father, and my constant companion... I praise you day and night for the words we no longer must speak aloud, and the prospect that at the end of my life on earth I will simply be no more, as I will be with you.
Rich Forbes