Enoch Walked With God # 2

Enoch Walked With God # 2

8. Another consequence of walking with God is the enjoyment of His protection. Myriads of enemies and dangers swarm in all the way to heaven; but while God is near He will not allow them to annoy us. When one of Enoch's spirit hears the thunders at a distance, his refuge is nearer than the danger, and he steps in and is safe. He hides himself where no evil or enemy, though searching for him throughout the world, can find him.

9. Another consequence of walking with God is, that we shall always have a faithful monitor at hand, to throw in timely cautions to keep us back from indiscretions and sin or to reclaim us when we have wandered. The consequence of one who walks with God is preserved tender, and God is faithful not to allow a son (or daughter) who cleaves to Him to err by His side without rebuke. To possess such a monitor is one of the greatest blessings of life. Let those who would enjoy this exalted privilege, take care never to depart from the side of their Saviour and their God.

10. Another consequence of walking with God is an enlightened view of His providence and government, a clear discernment of the glories of the heavenly world, and a peaceful assurance of His eternal love. Tell me what is happiness if this is not. What, of all the enjoyments of the world, can be exalted happiness compared with this? 

11. Another consequence of walking with God is a peaceful death. In Enoch's case it was not death, but a triumphant translation. And in every other case, in proportion as a man has walked with God, his end, though he leaves his body behind, is still triumphant, or at least serene. How unspeakable a comfort, when one is struggling with the king of terrors and about to enter on eternal and unchangeable scenes, to have the "full assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Spirit." How much better than to sink under awful fears of eternal wrath, or even under doubts which leave the soul to measure over the dark valley alone. Would you enjoy this triumph, or even this serenity in death, you must prepare for it by walking with God now.

12. Finally, another consequence of walking thus closely with God, is an enlarged share of immortal glory. In heaven time blessed inhabitants all walk with God, every day and hour. And they find it no burden but a happiness which they would not exchange for the whole creation. Why was it not then a happiness on earth? And yet for an exemplary march in that happy course, millions have found their blessedness eternally increased. The enhanced joy of a single soul for a few hours, will outweigh all the pleasures of all the wicked on earth. The time will come when that additional blessedness of a single soul, will have out-measured all the happiness enjoyed on earth from Adam to the end of the ages. How infinite the good resulting from one degree of additional faithfulness. I hope you are now prepared to give your whole attention while,

3. I state the means by which such a walk can kept up. Humility and faith, as we have already seen, are not means merely, but are involved in the very idea of a walk with God. Without these we cannot approach God, much less walk with Him. The same may be said of obedience generally. These in the inquiry are not considered so much in the light of means, as a  part of the walk which means are to keep up. And yet particular acts of disobedience may be mentioned as things to be avoided and particular acts of faith may be named as means to be employed. The means involve two things, - the guarding against what is injurious and the attending to what is useful.

1. The guarding against what is injurious. It is absolutely impossible to preserve the soul in the habit of conversing with God, without avoiding improper conversation with men; not only everything false and impure or profane or malicious or revengeful or unscandid or vain. It is even said "that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified and by your words you shall be condemned.

2. Vain thoughts are another hindrance to an intimate walk with God. There cannot be a great degree of spirituality, unless the mind is habitually employed in spiritual contemplations. People who consume most of their leisure hours in thoughts of vanity, do not walk with God. It betrays a heart full of idolatry. These cold thoughts diffuse chills of death through all the soul, and can no more comport with its spiritual activity, than paralysis can comport with the activity of the body.

3. No known sin must be indulged. One indulged sin is as decisive against us as a hundred. "Whoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

4. Undue worldly affections and cares must be excluded. The cares of this world seduce the heart from God. Every worldly care necessarily draws the attention from God for a season, as we cannot fixedly attend to two things at once. Those affections and cares, are undue, obstruct our communion with God and abate our intimacy with Him. Of course they must be guarded against if we would walk with Him.

1. Let us see to what we most attend. We must punctually and earnestly attend on all the means and ordinances of God. Any neglect or irregularity or carelessness in this will  cut the sinews of our spirituality, and diminish our strength to achieve victories and resist temptations. All our light and grace come through the medium of means.

~Edward Griffin~

(continued with # 3)