OVERCOME

         While in Canada I learnt this song:  "Him that overcometh will I make, will I make, a pillar in the temple of my God ... " (a quote from Revelation 3:12).  Wow!

        She that overcomes .... the challenge/invitation is to all.

      This must be very urgent in the mind of Christ, for His Spirit
urges all the Seven Churches to 'overcome' and attached rewards with
it. (Rev. 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21).

Seven keys to an overcoming life:

--- In Christ.
--- In the Word.
--- In prayer.
--- In purity.
--- In integrity.
--- In humility.
--- In Fellowship.

      Prayerfully explore the urgency of the overcoming life and ponder on
the steps to get there and stay there.  Every resource to walk in victory is provided in Christ:  cleanses us with His blood and empowers us to walk in the light of God, for God is light (1 John 1:5-7; John 3:16-21).

The Narrow Road

The Lord Jesus has revealed that the way to Salvation is narrow and the way to Destruction is wide (Matthew 7:13-14).  For a true Christian, regardless of the society he/she lives in, there is always a call to remain true to the precious teachings of the Bible, whether in good times or bad.  In good times, in places where Christianity is widespread, one danger is compromising with the world in complacency.  In such an environment, we can also find believers who darken the church doors occasionally but are not really converted.  Unconverted believers are those who intellectually assent to the teachings of the Bible but have not surrendered their hearts to Jesus Christ.

Many are quick to claim salvation by grace (Ephesian 2:8-9), but are at a loss when confronted with the teachings of repentance (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; etc).  It is very dangerous to make a theology out of one or two verses alone.  Letting scripture interpret scripture is a sound way to go about it, and a fuller definition of salvation by grace is given by the same Paul in Titus 2:11-14.  Upon careful examination of Paul's teachings we can easily conclude that repentance from sin and turning toward God in righteousness and holy living are clearly evident (Acts 20:21; 26:20; Romans 6:22-23... fruit to holiness).   Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins --- not to allow us to indulge in sins and claim salvation. 

One clear call, one clear will of God for all believers, is that we live holy lives  (1 Peter 1:15-16; Hebrews 12:14).  We can be made holy in Christ and live in holiness in the power of Christ.  Paul found his identity in being crucified with Christ, figuratively speaking (Galatians 2:20).  This is the narrow road.  Now that you have received salvation in Christ, walk the narrow road by putting "on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13:14).  If you do, there is a mansion beyond your wildest dream waiting for you in heaven (John 14:1-3).  HalleluYAH!

ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD

     God is good.  His personal name is Yahweh (or Yahuveh).  It is wonderful to know that we can fellowship with Him.  It is so sweet to hear the footsteps of Yahweh our Elohim.  Genesis 5:22 says that an ancient man named Enoch walked with God.  For how many years? 

     Ah, these days with all modern knowledge and gadgets and health consciousness, humans barely live to be one hundred.  And even with a short span of life, we desire to live it our way instead of discovering the beauty and sweetness of 'fellowship' with our creator.  Or we tire easily of our walk with God when difficulties come our way.  Yes, since the invasion of sin on planet earth, life has not been fair and easy, but we are still called to endure during tough times.  There will be valleys and mountains.  There is an inspirational song that goes something like: the God on the mountain is still the same God in the Valley.  "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil", says King David in Psalm 23.

    So Enoch walked with God for how many years? 20? 60? 100?  During those early days people live to be several hundred years old.  Enoch walked with God for 300 years.  Wow, that's like three lifetimes for us.  I'm sure he had some valley moments too, but he must have developed a craving for the presence of God that nothing can dissuade him from his pursuit of consistency with God.  Enoch both endured and enjoyed his life on earth.

   

    Why Endure?  Because there was so much godlessness around him.  There is a hint that by the time Enoch's father Jared was born, some angelic beings had fallen as they took physical form and indulged in sexual union with beautiful women they lusted after.  This produced giants who devastated the land to feed their voracious appetite for food and scarcity also brought about food fights and even cannibalism.  Violence, sexual orgies and perversion, and gluttony became widespread.  The human race was corrupted and humans themselves become corrupt and godless.  This was one major reason for God to eliminate the corrupt and corrupted human race and begin anew with one family that remain untainted and God-fearing.  The name of this family patriarch is called Noah, who also walked with God (Genesis 6:9-11).  Yahshua (aka Jesus) predicted that the end times which we are now in will become like the days of Noah (Luke 17:26-27).  He also says that the way to eternal life is narrow and only a few will be walking in it (Matthew 7:13-14).  Are you walking with God, or are you living like the people described in the days of Noah?  A reckoning is coming, and the time to turn away from godless ways is now, or else be caught by surprise in judgment.  Yahshua was rejected and suffered persecution because instead of participating in peoples wickedness He exposed them and offered a better way.  But arrogant humans don't like to be told what they should or should not do.  The flesh wish to do whatever it likes without any restraint.  So yes, if you begin to walk with God, you can expect pressures and persecutions from society.  Prepare for endurance in your walk with God. (Matthew 24:12-13).

    Enoch enjoyed the secret of fellowship with God.  An open secret, as they say.   God does not change (Malachi 3:6).  By his obedience, Enoch passed down blessings to his descendants: from Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah and his family who survived the flood (Genesis 5:21-32; 6:9-10; compare Exodus 20:6).  For Enoch the passion for life consist in his walk with God.  In fact he was so faithful and pleasing to God that God took him to heaven without experiencing natural death like all mankind.  This is a picture of what will happen when Yahshua come for His Bride, which is the faithful and holy Christians who walk with God in daily lives.  Christians who desire to please God in all that they do.  "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5).

    There it is.  Enoch pleased God.  Live to please God.  Pray and discover what pleases and glorifies God and live accordingly.  That is the secret of walking with God.  He delights in us and wish for us to commune with Him every moment every day.  Amen!