“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.” Heb 11:5 (NIV)
Two people in the Bible had the distinct privilege of not experiencing death, namely, Enoch and Elijah. Enoch walked with God and was no more because God took him away (Gen 5:24). Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). Can you imagine walking with God and then bypassing death altogether in order to be instantly ushered into the presence of the Lord?
What kind of life did Enoch live before he was taken up to heaven? The Bible gives us clarity that Enoch lived by faith. He is honored in the Hall of Faith found in Hebrews chapter eleven. Enoch’s walk with God gave evidence of a lifestyle devoted to pleasing God. Enoch embraced a consistent lifestyle that brought honor to God. He was an avid God pleaser!
Do you please God? Are you loving what God loves and hating what God hates? Assess your current reality. Examine the motives behind your lifestyle. Consider the spiritual resume that you are building through your walk with God. Think about how your life influences others. Can you be commended as one who pleases God?
If the focus of your life has been pleasing others, repent of that sin. Reorient your life to embrace a lifestyle of pleasing God. Make God’s smile the goal of your life. Remember that you will stand before God one day to give an account of how you lived your life on earth. You will not give an account to any of the people you are currently trying to please. Become a God pleaser!
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
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