The road of faith can get pretty lonely at times…
I’ll be honest – sometimes I feel like the demands of the Christian life are too much to handle. Do you ever feel the same, as if you are the only one on this challenging road of faith? Well, this week God reminded me of some characters in the Old Testament who probably felt the same way, but lived for the Lord anyway! I hope you will be encouraged, as we look at them below.
- Enoch
Enoch was listed one of Adam’s many descendants in Genesis 5. Just like his predecessors, the number of years he lived and the name of his first son were listed – not much to read about. At the point where he is named, however, the text adds a critical fact.
Genesis 5:22 -24 “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.” (NLT)
I found it interesting to note that the author did not mention how Enoch’s predecessors related to God. Apparently, there was a good reason for Enoch’s walk with God to make ‘news’ at this point – he was probably surrounded by people who were not interested in close fellowship with God. I am sure this situation is familiar to many of us –being surrounded by people who have no value for God. Enoch, however, set an excellent example for us. He walked with God because he enjoyed his fellowship and company, not because everyone around was doing the same thing. Food for thought!
- Noah
At the beginning of Genesis 6, the Lord was distressed at the amount of wickedness that he saw on the earth, and as a result, resolved to destroy everyone and everything. There was one man, however, who he chose to save, and that man was Noah.
Genesis 6:8 “But Noah found favor with the LORD. This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.” (NLT)
Here was a man, evidently unmoved by all the negative influences around him, instead choosing to walk with God. Imagine how difficult it was for him, staying pure when surrounded by sin. Noah, however, gained the Lord’s favor through his blameless life. God was pleased with Noah, and as such, chose to spare him and his family. What a challenge this is to me – my walk as a Christian should not be dependent on what goes on around me. Also, the sacrifice I make to walk with Christ brings blessing to my loved ones!
- David
King David is one of the most well known Bible characters today. But guess what – he wasn’t perfect, and messed up more than once. Here’s the thing, though –every time he repented, God welcomed him back. Why would God take back someone who disobeyed, murdered, and often trusted in his own judgment?
Acts 13:22 ‘But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said,” I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.”‘ (NLT)
David was a man who loved God and enjoyed being in his presence. The Psalms he wrote are clear evidence of the kind of relationship they had. God referred to David as a man after his own heart – a real compliment for a man who was far from perfect! Because David maintained an attitude of reverence and submission towards God, the Lord’s arms were always ready to welcome him back whenever he strayed. In short, whatever David kept hidden in his heart was pleasing to God, and earned him great rewards.
Enoch was the only one who walked in close fellowship with God during his time, Noah was the only blameless person in his generation, and David was the only man after God’s own heart. All these three men remained faithful to who they believed in even when everyone around was going in the opposite direction. I am not the only one walking down this road of faith, and neither are you. Even if there is nobody next to with whom you share the walk of faith, God is right there, watching with approval as you live for him.