"Enoch"Message summary: Like Enoch let us walk with God and speak out boldly for Him.
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"Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men. 'See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all
the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against Him'" (Jude 1:14,15).
Two pastors were standing by the side of the road holding up a sign that reads, "The End is Near! Turn yourself around now before it’s too late!" They held up the sign to each passing car.
“Leave us alone, you religious nuts!” yells the first driver as he speeds by. From around the curve
the pastors hear screeching tires and a big splash.
“Do you think,” one pastor says to the other, “it would be better to shorten the sign to ‘Bridge Out’ instead?”
On a more serious note, impending judgment is a message that many find offensive. Proclaim that today and you will be labeled a crackpot by the world and sadly many in the visible church would critique your message to be "unloving". It's certainly not "seeker
friendly".
Enoch is best known for his rather unconventional departure from this world. The Bible simply states, "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:24). In fact even for scholarly Bible students that is what they will remember most about the life of Enoch.
But we also know from Hebrews 11:5-6 that he was a man of faith and "he was
commended as one who pleased God".
Our daily verse provides an additional, lesser known and considered glimpse into his life and ministry. Although Enoch lived in the rampantly evil, pre-flood period of human history, he didn't keep his faith to himself. He prophesied, speaking out regarding his belief in God and his convictions. In fact he is the very first recorded Bible character to prophecy for God.
Jude records the specific prophecy that Enoch spoke forth and
it is just as meaningful to our generation as the first time he spoke it some 5,300 years ago: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against Him" (Jude 1:14b,15).
A few verses later Jude writes, "But you, beloved,
ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, 'In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts'.” Interestingly, Jude is quoting from another New Testament book from the Apostle Peter. "Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts" (2 Peter 3:3).
The Bible says that the Lord is coming in
judgment. Each time Christians recite the Apostles Creed they reaffirm the coming day when Jesus, "will come again to judge the living and the dead".
Men and women, like Enoch, are still called by God to walk with Him and faithfully speak forth His word. Enoch's great-grandson, Noah, sure did. In 2 Peter 2:5 he is called a "preacher of righteousness".
And many, many more have done so
throughout the Biblical and Church ages. In our own day millions, like Enoch, are walking with God and speaking out boldly for Him. Are you?
Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Wordpress
