By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not
experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For
before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith
it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe
that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11: 5-6)
When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch
. . .. When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. After
he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years
and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years.
Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because
God took him away. (Genesis
5:18 & 20-24)
Yesterday’s photo was “Mr. Everyone,” or “Mr. Average
Joe.” It seems as if his main claim to fame was that he died. Today, we have
the opposite. Enoch seems to have been Saint Enoch. We don’t know what he did,
but we’re told the one thing he didn’t do. He didn’t die. That might show the
heights of human faith, but it’s like showing me video of Mike Powell jumping
twenty-nine feet, four-and-a-quarter inches. Amazing video, astounding jump,
but about as relatable (for me at least) as Enoch. How is such an example going
to do us any good?
I think Abel’s story gives us comfort and confidence. We see that we can be commended for having enough faith to just live our lives. Enoch gives us vision. He shows us what is possible. We need both. Without vision, our comfort and confidence are likely to dwindle and die because there’s no need to strengthen them. Without comfort and confidence, our vision will dwindle and die because there’s no hope to strengthen it.
I will never manage a leap like Mike Powell’s, and even if I did, my chiropractor and podiatrist would both scold me (and hip and knee replacement surgeons would rub their hands in anticipation) but I’ll bet if I worked on it, I’d eventually jump an inch further than whatever I can manage now. I know that extra inch is possible, because Mike Powell jumped more than twenty-nine feet. I don’t think I can live up to Enoch’s level of faith, but I know that beyond “living my life and dying” is possible, because Enoch did it.
Years ago, I read Seven Habits of Highly Successful People by Stephen Covey, and loved it. He wrote about discovering our mission by asking “What do I want to have?”, “What do I want to do?” and “On what principles do I want to base my having and doing?” Later, I came to hate those questions because they were all about wants and the future. The question, I decided, was “What am I designed to be?”
In John Ortberg’s Soul Keeping, he teaches what he learned form Dallas Willard. The question is “What sort of person do I want to become?” That question seems to bring Mr. Covey’s and mine together. We must begin where we are, but we must move toward that vision. That brings me back to where I was six months ago… asking what do I want to be when I grow up. We have to begin where we are, and I think I’ve worked through some things that give me an idea where that is for me but it isn’t a place we’re supposed to stay.
Where I think it’s easy for us to go wrong is to say, “I’m going to be Enoch!” or “I’m going to be a best-selling author!” The former is arrogant, the second incidental. Remember, we’re touring the Hall of Faith. If we are going to be something more than we are today, the point is for us to be more faithful. As we grow in faith, some of the others will happen, and some won’t. That won’t matter. Without faith, it’s impossible to please God.
I think Abel’s story gives us comfort and confidence. We see that we can be commended for having enough faith to just live our lives. Enoch gives us vision. He shows us what is possible. We need both. Without vision, our comfort and confidence are likely to dwindle and die because there’s no need to strengthen them. Without comfort and confidence, our vision will dwindle and die because there’s no hope to strengthen it.
I will never manage a leap like Mike Powell’s, and even if I did, my chiropractor and podiatrist would both scold me (and hip and knee replacement surgeons would rub their hands in anticipation) but I’ll bet if I worked on it, I’d eventually jump an inch further than whatever I can manage now. I know that extra inch is possible, because Mike Powell jumped more than twenty-nine feet. I don’t think I can live up to Enoch’s level of faith, but I know that beyond “living my life and dying” is possible, because Enoch did it.
Years ago, I read Seven Habits of Highly Successful People by Stephen Covey, and loved it. He wrote about discovering our mission by asking “What do I want to have?”, “What do I want to do?” and “On what principles do I want to base my having and doing?” Later, I came to hate those questions because they were all about wants and the future. The question, I decided, was “What am I designed to be?”
In John Ortberg’s Soul Keeping, he teaches what he learned form Dallas Willard. The question is “What sort of person do I want to become?” That question seems to bring Mr. Covey’s and mine together. We must begin where we are, but we must move toward that vision. That brings me back to where I was six months ago… asking what do I want to be when I grow up. We have to begin where we are, and I think I’ve worked through some things that give me an idea where that is for me but it isn’t a place we’re supposed to stay.
Where I think it’s easy for us to go wrong is to say, “I’m going to be Enoch!” or “I’m going to be a best-selling author!” The former is arrogant, the second incidental. Remember, we’re touring the Hall of Faith. If we are going to be something more than we are today, the point is for us to be more faithful. As we grow in faith, some of the others will happen, and some won’t. That won’t matter. Without faith, it’s impossible to please God.
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