LIVING IN CLOSE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

As people populated the world, Satan's influence on the hearts and minds of people led them to ignore God's commandments and follow whatever their hearts desire. People chose to live in sin and were very hostile to God's Words and ways. As a result, the condition on the earth worsens, and many people suffer. According to Seth's genealogy, two known individuals followed God. First, it was Enoch. Genesis 5:21-24 says, "When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him." Despite the sinful ways of mankind overwhelming the world, few godly people existed in this world. Enoch continued to persevere in his faith in God. He never compromised his faith and chose to go against the sinful ways of this world. As a result, God took him home to be with Him. God shortened his sufferings in this world. 

Enoch lived in a world that's basically a lot like ours today. People are more focused on the desires of their hearts rather than following God. People live according to what they feel or what is true according to their own understanding. God becomes nothing, or if they believe in God, He becomes secondary to them. The most devastating is that they describe God as a God that they can manipulate to get what they want from Him. As a result, people created their own religions to describe the gods that they want to follow. Today, millions of religions are very hostile to the Word of God and persecute those who genuinely believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Young people are being pressured to follow the ways of this world, and many are choosing not to submit to God's will. As Enoch stood for his love and fellowship with God, we must do the same in our own generation. People in our generation must see that God still exists in this world through the way we live for God. We must persevere in walking with God daily, and never compromise our faith to the ways of this world. Let us not put the desires of our hearts and minds over the desires of God in our lives. 

True living is living according to the ways of God. There will come a time when our God will take us home to be with Him just like He did to Enoch. Let us persevere in knowing, following, and serving our God. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What did Enoch do in his own generation? How should I live in today's generation? Why is it important to live for God?

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for encouraging me this morning to continue to persevere in following you. Please help me to put you first in my heart, for your ways are what is best for me. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.