
26 JULY
Walking in glory
‘And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.’ Genesis 5:24
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Hebrews 11:1–7
Enoch was dismissed from his warfare. He was not—no more seen upon earth. But God took him to walk with him in glory (Hebrews 11:5). He saw not death. He felt not the painful separation between soul and body. Some think his enemies were about to kill him and the Lord thus interposed to deliver him. It is probable. Thus it was with Elijah—the only instances afforded amongst the many millions of Adam’s posterity. In them God was pleased to give new evidence of an invisible state, and they were in that circumstance types of the ascension of the Lord Jesus.
Yet he was translated. Flesh and blood cannot see the kingdom of God. Therefore, says the Apostle, speaking of those who shall be on earth when the Saviour returns and shall be caught up to meet him in the air, We shall not all die, but all must be changed, the vile mortal body made conformable to Christ’s glorious body [1 Corinthians 15:51–54].
God took him—took him for his own, took him to dwell with him in heaven, to fill him with happiness and glory. O happy end of a life spent in walking with God. Then his desires were answered, his sorrows removed, his labours and trials rewarded.
Life is compared to a journey—each of you is walking, but are you walking with God? If not, where are you going? (John 12:35). O that you might, by the example of others, be made wise to consider your latter end.
FOR MEDITATION:
By faith in CHRIST I walk with GOD,
Though snares and dangers throng my path,
With heaven, my journey’s end, in view;
And earth and hell my course withstand;
Supported by his staff and rod,
I triumph over all by faith,
My road is safe and pleasant too.
Guarded by his Almighty hand.
I travel through a desert wide
I pity all that worldlings talk
Where many round me blindly stray;
Of pleasures that will quickly end;
But he vouchsafes to be my guide,
Be this my choice, O LORD, to walk
And will not let me miss my way.
With thee, my Guide, my Guard, my Friend.
SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 13 [3/3], GENESIS 5:24