ENOCH; Or, The Young Man's Walk

ENOCH; Or, The Young Man's Walk
From Timeless Grace Gems
James Smith, 1856

"Enoch walked with God," — then he daily aimed to please God. It is impossible to walk with God — but as we realize that it is our duty to please him, and to aim at this habitually. The man who walks as Enoch did, will ask, in reference to his motives, plans, pursuits, objects, society, and aims, "Will this please God?" If he perceives that anything is likely to please him — he will encourage it; if not, he will discard it.

No wonder that some of us know so little of the blessedness of close walking with God, when we are so little concerned to please him. And no wonder that we so seldom seek to please him, seeing we live and walk at such a distance from him.

"Enoch walked with God," — then he lived, moved, and acted as under the eye of God. This is a most holy principle — to do everything that we do in the world, in the family, and in the church — as under the immediate eye of God. To look up in the midst of every action, and whisper, "You see me O God!" Oh, to live under this impression increasingly from day to day!

Here, then, is an example for young people, especially young men. Enoch was but young, when he began to walk with God; but he pursued that course for more than three hundred years. Nor did he leave the world, or the family, or retire to some mountain or cave — to do it. No! He did so in active life, as a man, a father, and a member of God's church.

Enoch, my young friends, speaks to you!

Enoch says to us: "Seek divine teaching!" It was because he was taught of God, and deeply taught — that he became so exemplary, so familiar with God, so pleasant in the sight of God, that at last he "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!"

Enoch says to us: "Dedicate yourself to his service!" Enoch was dedicated to God; first his person, and then all that he had. Neither himself nor his property were his — all was the Lord's. He gave himself unreservedly to God, he consecrated all he had to the service of God, and he kept close to the Lord's side all through his wilderness journey.

Enoch says to us: "Believe the divine testimony, that God is love." This lay at the root of his holiness, and was the source of his exemplary conduct. Had he not believed that God was love, he would have never chosen his company, or become familiar with him in his daily walk.

Our course is always influenced by our faith, and our faith is influenced by our fellowship with God.

Enoch says to us: "Accept the Lord's invitation to come to him and walk with him." The voice of God cries, "Come unto me!" Jesus adds, "Abide with me!" Distance from God is the source of all our misery — and nothing but nearness to God will make us truly happy. How long has God been calling to some of us in his blessed Word, and saying, "Come unto me;" and we have not come yet. Let us delay no longer — but at once do as Enoch did, come to God, and abide with God.

Enoch says to us: "Trust in the Lord's gracious and most faithful promises." He did so, and proved the Lord's words to be true. The promises of God to us are exceeding great and very precious; but they do us no good — unless we believe them, trust in them, and expect the Lord to make them good. Unless we receive the promises as from God's hand, and place our trust and confidence in them — we shall not be properly affected by them; but if we do, they will draw us near to God, lead us to repose in God, and teach us to walk with God.

Enoch says to us: "Realize the presence of God as with you. Walk by his holy Word. Aim singly at his glory." God, as our father, goes every step with his children, gives them the precepts of his holy Word to direct them, sets his own glory before them to be aimed at by them — and so secures them safety, holiness, and happiness.

Dear friends, we walk with God — or do we walk away from God? Which is it? Every step we take is in the right, or wrong direction. Which is it?

If we would walk with God, we must converse with him daily. Do you? Have you been in his company today? Has he heard your voice at the throne? And have you heard his voice in his holy Word? If God is not your companion — then Satan is. If you walk with God — then you are going to Heaven. If you walk with Satan — then you are going to Hell! A man is generally known by the company he keeps, for we insensibly imbibe the spirit of our companions. If we walk with God — we shall imbibe the spirit of God, and the spirit of God is holy. "He who walks with wise men will be wise;" but he who walks with the infinitely wise God will be more so:
wise to salvation,
wise to escape danger,
wise to secure good,
wise to gain honor and renown,
wise to win souls.

Walk, then, with God, and peace at present, and glory forever — shall be yours!

PUBLIC DOMAIN - Permission is not required to reproduce this material. Feel free to forward this on to your friends.