Walking By Faith

Are there people in the Bible who intrigue you, encourage you, and somehow challenge you? Maybe Moses and his keen leadership skills? Or, Esther the compelling Queen, both beautiful and brainy who used her quick thinking to help save an entire nation? What about Joseph, someone so mistreated but could continually take the high road – which led him not only to political power but also to family forgiveness.

All of these are good choices, but I choose Enoch. As a young man he fascinated me. Not a lot is written about him, but what is there piqued my interest. “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24). My young mind pondered that strange description. He was whisked away, spared the pain of death and transported immediately to God’s side, all because of two simple things: He pleased God and walked daily by faith.

I say simple, but I don’t say easy. It is a simple thing to please God. You just do what He says in His Word. Straightforward enough, right? However, my years as a follower of Christ have taught me that simple is not always easy. Choices present themselves, the world screams, our flesh gets in the way and we want revenge or glory. So we often lack faith, and instead try to control our own destinies. We mess up the pleasing God part with I do my own thing.

Enoch walked with God. Oh, don’t we long for that to be said of us? I’ll admit I don’t always walk with God. I take a stand for God, believe the right things and make it known. I may walk after God. And sadly, sometimes I run ahead of God, make my own plans. I say I made them in His name. I may have forgotten to consult Him in the midst of my business, but they are for God. Walking with God means we daily give up our desire to navigate our own lives, and we place our faith in Him. We admit He knows what’s best for us and realise He might not always reveal the hows and whys until the very last second. God is seldom early, but never late. Only day-by-day faith-walking pleases God.

Today, make God smile as He sees you place complete trust in Him and His infinite wisdom. Maybe then we just might be like my Bible hero Enoch … the one who walked so closely by our Creator’s side that one day, during one of those long walks, God looked at him and said, “You know, we’ve been walking together for so long now that we are closer to My house than yours. Why don’t you just come on home with Me right now?” Glory!

Let’s pray

Yahweh, show me how to walk step by step with You in faith not ahead of You or behind You, but right by Your side. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.