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From the Pulpit of Bro. JR.
Fields
May 24,
2009
Genesis
5:21-24 "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 years of Enoch were three hundred and sixty and
five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."
A few weeks ago, I preached on Cain and Abel and how Cain
took the life of his brother Abel. Cain was vanquished into a far country.
The Bible says he went to the land of Nod and took a wife. Many people
have asked the question, "Where did his wife come from?" I have heard many
theories, but I believe the answer is simple; Cain married his sister. You
might say, "Preacher, that is not legal." In our times it is not legal.
However, in the beginning of time, it all goes back to Adam and Eve. I
cannot believe in the theory of Cain marrying a monkey. I cannot believe
in the theory of evolution. Therefore, through the process of elimination,
Cain married one of his sisters. The Bible explains the genealogy of
begats -- One begat a son and they lived so many years, then they died.
None of them did anything great. When we get to the story of Enoch, we see
he did nothing great either, except he walked faithfully with the Lord after his
son Methuselah was born. I believe it was because Enoch realized the
awesome responsibility it was to bring a child into the world. I wish to
God some parents of today had the heart of Enoch when they bring children into
the world. What a responsibility it is to become a parent!
You may ask, "Preacher, why did people of the old Bible
live so long?" I can only answer it the way I see it. In the
beginning there was no pollution, no disease, no germs. It was a perfect
environment. Another theory is that in the Garden of Eden there were two
trees, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. We
all know the story. As long as Adam and Eve had access to the Tree of Life
they could have eaten and never would have died. In Genesis 3 we see that
once Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, God sent
them away from the garden. He placed angels holding flaming swords at the
east of the garden to keep them out. At this point, sin entered the world
and with sin's coming the perfect environment deteriorated.
God has a plan for every person's life, but in order to
walk with God, you have to agree that God's way is best. No two can walk
together unless both agree on the way you should walk. Therefore, when you
walk with God you have to agree that His way is best. If we did that there
would be no fussing, fighting and we would never have to lock our doors.
Things would be so much better if everyone walked with God. I cannot be
sure of what Enoch said, but I believe it may have gone something like this: "Oh
God, show me the way to be a good father, good husband, and good citizen of my
community; and I'll do my very best." Enoch was here on earth and then he
was gone. The Bible says "because God took him."
What is the difference between Enoch and us? Nothing.
Yet, he didn't have to go to the hospital. He didn't have to go to the
funeral home and he didn't have to go to the graveyard and have dirt pounced on
him. God took him straight to heaven.
Enoch is the perfect example of what the rapture will be
like. Enoch was up and walking around one minute and the next he was gone.
We don't hear any more about Enoch now, but go to Hebrews 11:5: "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 his testimony, that he pleased
God." Although every denomination has a different belief on the rapture,
almost all agree that the word "transformed" means God took him to heaven.
"Preacher, what are we going to be like in heaven?" I
believe the Bible says we will have a body just like Christ. Basically, I
think you will be very much like you are now. You move from one realm to
another but you will keep many of your own characteristics. "Why?" you
ask, "So people will know who we are?" Do you think I will walk into
heaven with a sign hung around my neck saying, "I am JR." We will know as
we are known, because we will retain much of whom we are here on earth.
There will be some modifications, but we will know as we are known. Enoch
did not see death. He did not go to the graveyard. He was here and
then he was gone. However, he walked with God and had a testimony.
What was that testimony? He walked with God and he pleased God. How
can two walk together except they please each other?
Brother Johnny was telling of a preacher he heard who
made the statement, "My wife and I have been married for forty years and have
never had an argument." I thought, "Well, glory! Miracles do still
happen." I have to say Lisa and I do well -- she wins out and I sulk.
Hey! Somebody's gotta' give.
You may walk past my casket; You may see my lifeless form
lying there, but I will not be there. I'll be gone. I like what Paul
says, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." So,
call me gone. How do we walk with God? By faith. Just like
Enoch. It was not because of his righteousness, not because of his ability
to do something great, but because of faith; he had to walk with God. He
was no spiritual superman. He didn't build tabernacles, schools or perform
miracles. But God spoke and Enoch listened.
I can hear my Savior calling; I can hear my Savior calling,
I can hear my Savior calling "Take thy cross and follow, follow me."
I'll go with Him through the garden; I'll go with Him
through the garden;
I'll go with Him through the garden; I'll go with Him, with Him all the way.
I'll go with Him through the judgment; I'll go with Him
through the judgment;
I'll go with Him through the judgment; I'll go with Him, with Him all the way.
He will give me grace and glory; He will give me grace and
glory;
He will give me grace and glory, and go with me, with me all the way.
Where He leads me I will follow, Where He leads me I will
follow,
Where He leads me I will follow, I'll go with Him, with Him all the way.
Bro. JR Fields
May 24, 2009
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