I wanna be like....

 Enoch.  Remember him?  There isn't much said about Enoch.  Remember Noah?  The one who built - in faith - the ark for himself and his family, and two of all the animals of the world?  Remember that the world had gotten so corrupt that God just couldn't stand it anymore, that He decided to 'start over'.  And look at our world today.... don't you think that God is about ready to destroy it today?  Anyway... back to Enoch.   Enoch was seventh in the line of Adam (and the great-grandfather of Noah)

Genesis 5:21-24 (NKJV):  "Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.  So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.  And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Ah, do you see the words I underlined?  Enoch walked with God.  THAT is who I want to be like, WHAT I want to be known for.  That I walked with God.  Can you even imagine what that is like?  To be able to walk with the Almighty, Faithful, Loving, Kind, Generous, All-Knowing... and so many more adjectives... God.  Our Heavenly Father.  Since Jesus is also God, it means I also want to walk with Jesus.  Not just once in awhile, but always.  Enoch pleased God, and he was faithful to God and in constant relationship with Him all of his days.  And as Enoch was, so I want to be.

Oh - and just a side note, you remember Methuselah, right?  He is the oldest man who ever lived.  

Genesis 5:25-26 (NKJV):  "Methuselah lived one hundred and sixty-seven years, and begot Lamech.  After he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had sons and daughters."

But, back to Enoch.  Why am I talking about Enoch this morning?  Because he is listed in Hebrews 11 because of his faith in God.

Hebrews 11:5-6 (NKJV):  "By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Enoch pleased God.  That was his testimony.  He had so much faith in God that he not only pleased God, but because of it, God took him; he did not die.  Now that is not the reason I want to be like Enoch.  I want to be like Enoch because he walked with God.  I want to have the faith that Enoch had; I want to please God every day in every way.  There can't be anything better, can there?  To walk with God?  

Oh - I am sure when I am out walking, that I am 'walking with God'... but can you just imagine with me the picture of Enoch walking and talking with God Almighty.... and although God would not be seen, but Enoch was having conversation with God?  Discussing how awesome God is, so worthy of all praise and all worship?  God doesn't always talk with me when I'm out walking (and I need to get out walking more!!) but when He does... there is nothing like it.  I want faith like Enoch.  I want to walk with God every day - always.

I do have several other Bible heroes, people who had great faith (like Daniel in the lion's den, his three friends who were thrown in the firey furnace, etc!), but Enoch has alwys been my favorite, I think, because He walked with God.  The Bible doesn't list any other thing about greatness.  Just that Enoch walked with God.  And that is what I want.  Enoch pleased God.  And that is my daily focus. To please God.

Our lives are crazy nowadays, don't you think?  You've heard (aka read) my grumblings for some time now of things I'm not happy about; you've also read some good things, I hope.  I do grumble perhaps too much.  As I have said many times, this is my outlet.  And yes, I'm sure that God sees all that I write here as well.  In fact, He has me erase things many times when let my emotions get me carried away.  (i.e., erase, erase)  He knows where my heart is, and He knows everything that I feel, that I go through. And you know what?

God loves me just the way I am.  He loves that my heart seeks after Him.  He loves it when I even make a mistake - why?  Because I come running back to Him and seek His face more diligently, because I know I have not followed Him with all my heart.  God always welcomes me back with open arms.  In fact, I'm pretty sure He is often sitting upon His throne waiting on me with open arms to gather me close and lavish His love and forgiveness on me.

And He is also sitting there, waiting for you.  Does not the picture of Jesus sitting on His throne come to your mind right now, and can you not picture His arms opened wide to receive you - just as you are?  Oh that each one of us would be willing to run - not walk - to His arms and allow His love and forgiveness to flow over us quickly!  

What is the legacy you want to leave for your children,, your grandchildren, even your great grandchildren - and beyond?  I want mine to know that I loved Jesus with all my heart, that I not only followed Jesus, but that I walked with Him.

Blessings!