The Faith of Enoch

     And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

     And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 

     And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

     And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

                     ( Genesis 5:21-24 KJV)

We do not read much about this man known as Enoch, but what we read is amazing. He walked with God and God one day took him. Only two men have ever been taken up without experiencing death, Enoch and Elijah.

We see that Enoch walked with God for 365 years. We should ask ourselves what it means to walk with God. Walking with God implies fellowship, agreement. One must be in agreement with God if one is to fellowship with Him. Can two walk together unless they are agreed? (Amos 3:3).

If we understand who God is-that He is transcendent, holy, sinless, then we also will desire to walk in holiness. We will love what He loves, and hate what He hates, and it will show by our attitudes and actions 

This is the message of 1John 1:5-7. God is light. There is no darkness in Him. Therefore if we say we have fellowship with God, yet are walking in darkness we are being dishonest, we stand in opposition to Him. Those who walk in light are the ones who are truly in fellowship with Him 

We read in Hebrews that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). A few verses later we read this about Enoch,

     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 the testimony, that he pleased God.

     But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

                      (Hebrews 11:5-6 KJV)

Ultimately it starts with faith. We read that it is impossible to please God without it. All of our efforts and intentions mean nothing without a firm trust in, and an adherence to God. Whatever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

If we are to come to God, we must believe that He exists. And if God exists, we must rid ourselves of ourselves and pursue Him. The above verse states that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. To diligently seek God goes far above the mere asking for things. To seek God in this context is to seek God Himself, because He is worthy. He must become our greatest treasure, the one thing we desire above all else. This is where are true contentment is found. We can be absolutely destitute but have God, and in that we have everything.

One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

                              (Psalm 27:4 KJV)

The Triune God in Isaiah 48

Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am He; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.

                      (Isaiah 48:12-13 KJV)

The individual speaking in these two verses can be identified as God. He claims to be the first and the last, something no one but God can claim. There is no one else besides Him. He is the uncreated first cause of all creation. In this passage He is shown to be the one who created the heavens and the earth. It is undisputable, this is God speaking.

As this passage continues God speaks of bringing future Judgement on Babylon who He will use as a chastisement upon His people, particularly the southern kingdom of Judah. When the time has come, God will raise up a Persian ruler named Cyrus to set His people free (see Isaiah 44:28-44:4).

It is still God speaking as we come to verse 16,

Come ye near to me, hear this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God and his Spirit, hath sent me.

                                ( Isaiah 48:16 KJV)

So notice that it is God speaking, who will be sent by the Lord God, and the Spirit. Here we have a clear view of the triune makeup of God. Again, it is obvious from the context that it is God speaking. No one but God can claim to be the first and last, the creator of the heavens and earth. That claim belongs only to God. Yet we see the Lord God, and the Spirit, sending the speaker who we have identified as God.

We can deduce from this portion of scripture that it prophetically speaks of the coming Messiah, Jesus, who will be annointed by the Holy Spirit. 

This is foretold also in Isaiah 42:1-7, and Isaiah 61:1-3, and confirmed by Jesus Himself when He read this passage in the synogogue, and claimed to be the fulfillment of it (Luke 4:16-21). Lest there be any doubt in our minds, Creation is ascribed to Jesus as well as it states in Hebrews 1:2-3, Col 1:16, and John 1:3, which reads, All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.

Notice the "There am I" statement denoting eternity. This is very close to Jesus' statement in John 8:58, "Before Abraham was, I am."

Here we have again seen Jesus portrayed as God, as well as another Old Testament passage which reveals the triune God.