If you can remember back in your early parenting days when your children were just new-born babes, you finally had a glimpse of the wonderful love our Heavenly Father has for us to give us His dear Son, Jesus. Knowing now that you would do anything for that baby to protect it, you could begin to understand the emotions involved in heaven when Jesus left the Father to come to this earth and take our sinful degenerate nature.
Enoch had the same experience. Inspiration tells us: "Of Enoch it is written that he lived sixty-five years and begat a son; after that he walked with God three hundred years. During his earlier years, Enoch had loved and feared God, and had kept His commandments. After the birth of his first son, he reached a higher experience; he was drawn into closer relationship with God. As he was the child's love for its father, its simple trust in his protection; as he felt the deep yearning tenderness of his own heart for that first born son, he learned a precious lesson of the wonderful love of God to man in the gift of His Son, and the confidence which the children of God may repose in their heavenly Father. The infinite, unfathomable love of God through Christ, became the subject of his meditations day and night. With all the fervor of his soul he sought to reveal that love to the people among whom he dwelt." Gospel Workers, page 51
The scripture quoted above says Enoch walked with God. Let's define the word "walk" from Webster's 1828 Dictionary. "To move slowly on the feet; to step slowly along; to advance by steps moderately repeated; as animals. Walking in men differs from running only in the rapidity and length of the steps; to move or go on the feet for exercise or amusement. In Scripture, to live and act or behave; to pursue a particular course of life. To walk with God, to live in obedience to his commands, and have communion with him. Genesis 5" (verses 22-24).
To Spirit of Prophecy has a wonderful definition of walking: ". . . Christ commands His followers to walk in the light. Walking means moving onward, exerting ourselves, exercising our ability, being actively engaged. Unless we exercise ourselves in the good work to which our Saviour has called us, and feel the importance of personal effort in this work, we shall have a sickly, stunted religion. We gain new victories by our experience in working. We gain activity and strength by walking in the light, that we may have energy to run in the way of God's commandments. We may gain an increase of strength at every step we advance heavenward. God will bless His people only when they try to be a blessing to others. Our graces are matured and developed by exercise." {emphasis supplied} Testimonies, Vol. 3, page 436
The above definition can also be applied to physical walking (see our Health Corner).
Scripture talks about walking. Let's examine a few texts.
Psalm 143:8 "Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee."
This prayer is answered by the following text.
Isaiah 30:21 "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."
Psalm 86:11 "Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name."
Psalm 89:15 "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance."
We need to be watchful of our steps because it is possible to walk in darkness--that's when we stumble off the right path.
1 John 1:6, 7 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
Psalm 82:5 "They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course."
It is very important that we hear that word behind us saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it" (Isa. 30:21).
In our research we found the following ways in which Enoch walked with God.
Now, how do we go about walking as Enoch walked? Let us look at some statements from inspiration to define the process.
"God must be ever in our thoughts. We must hold converse with him while we walk by the way, and while our hands are engaged in labor. In all the purposes and pursuits of life, we must inquire, What will the Lord have me to do? How shall I please Him who has given his life a ransom for me? Thus may we walk with God, as did Enoch of old; and ours may be the testimony which he received, that he pleased God." Review & Herald, May 30, 1882
"We must learn to distrust self, and to rely wholly upon God for guidance and support, for a knowledge of his will, and for strength to perform it. We must be much in communion with God. Prayer in secret, prayer while the hands are engaged in labor, prayer while walking by the way, prayer in the night season, the heart's desires ever ascending to God,--this is our only safety. In this manner Enoch walked with God. In this manner our Exemplar {Jesus} obtained strength to tread the thorny path from Nazareth to Calvary. Review & Herald, Nov. 8, 1887
"If thoughts of Christ, his work and character, are cherished, you will be led to sink deep the shaft of truth, and you will be enabled to come into possession of precious jewels of truth. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to you. As you meditate upon heavenly things, and walk with God, as did Enoch, you will lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset, and will run with patience the race set before you. We think that we are familiar with the character of Christ, and we do not realize how much is to be gained by the study of our glorious Pattern. We take it for granted that we know all about him, and yet we do not comprehend his character or mission. If we neglect to search the Scriptures, which testify of him, we shall be led from the truth into the error of the wicked one. Our building must be founded upon the Rock Christ Jesus or it will not stand the test of the tempest." Signs of the Times, Dec. 1, 1890 {emphasis supplied}
"The Word must be studied; it must rule in the heart, that we may be prepared to bring from the treasure house good things. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly; then when you are assailed, you will have the armor of God to wear. Having done all, you may stand. We need an abiding Christ with us, as Enoch had when he walked with God three hundred years. We can have what Enoch had: we can have Christ as our constant companion. Enoch walked with God, and when assailed by the tempter, he could talk with God about it. He had no 'It is written,' as we have, but he had a knowledge of his heavenly Companion. He made God his Counselor, and was closely bound up with Jesus. And Enoch was honored in this course. He was translated to heaven without seeing death. And those who will be translated at the close of time, will be those who commune with God on earth. those who make manifest that their life is hid with Christ in God will ever be representing Him in all their life practices. Selfishness will be cut out by the roots." Signs of the Times, May 12, 1898
May we each one begin to learn (or continue practicing) to walk with God like Enoch did.
Chapter 36 of the James White story continues next issue.
Hippocrates said, "walking is man's best medicine." It's easy to do, it's healthy, and it's safe.
No special skills or equipment is required except a good pair of walking shoes and some comfortable clothing.
I'm sure you are aware of the many health benefits of walking. Some of these benefits include:
Studies have shown that due to the design of our body, walking is more natural than sitting, standing, or running, and walking is not as stressful to the body as other exercises.
While walking is easier on your body, it can be just as beneficial as running in helping you lose weight. Running for 30 minutes at 5 mph will burn about 285 calories. Walking for 30 minutes at 4 mph will burn 165 calories on a level surface, 225 on a slight incline or 5%, and 360 calories on a 10% incline.
Walking does not require any special equipment, videos, or manuals to learn how to walk. All you have to do is walk naturally. An incentive to make walking more fun would be to acquire a pedometer.
When we read that the light of the fourth angel of Revelation 18 will be largely accomplished by the printed page, we can see how the internet will be one of the means God will use in these last days to finish His work. Please pray for its success.
We would like to share three very encouraging letters sent by Bible students.
Dear Jack and Cindy Jones
Hi. My
name is ______. I just received Jesus as my Saviour. I am doing
some other Bible Studies. My cell mate let me use a King James Bible.
I need one of my own. I would like to get one from you. I thank you
and God Bless you.
I like this study it will teach me to know
scriptures. I love to read the Bible. I love what I am learning
about Jesus. I am 46 years old. I was a nonbeliever for over 25
years and I will never let Him out of my life. I will do what He wants
me to I want to learn all I can. Your study will be a big help
and the Bible will be greatly appreciated.
Your new friend, RF, Texas
Dear Jack & Cindy
Thank you so
much for enrolling me in your Gospel Workers Ministry Bible studies. I am
looking forward to taking these lessons. I was raised a Christian from
youth and married a 7th Day Adventist in 1986. The reason I mention this
is I was wondering if you were affiliated, as the references of Christ's
Object Lessons & Steps to Christ are very familiar. I became so
involved that I studied at Orlando FL's Florida Hospital, to become a lay
pastor. I owned a retail business and was faithfully closed on Saturdays.
I recently lost my way however and am currently incarcerated. My wife of
17 years decided she wanted more of the world (she is a musician) and left me
for another man. I was devastated and still am, this happened in 2003.
She is currently involved with the lead guitar player in her band. We have
2 children ages 7 (boy) and 9 (girl), please pray for us.
The county facility that I
am currently at has a shortage of Bibles and I had to borrow one for the first
lesson, could you please send me one?
Again thank you for your lessons, your prayers, your support.
JH, Florida
Hello Jack & Cindy,
I wanted to write to you to tell you thanks for letting me into your studies,
this will help me to understand God's words. I was reading the pamphlet
that you sent along with my first Bible study and I have two requests.
First, can you send me a Bible to do the studies with? Second, I wanted to
enroll my 13 year old son and my wife into the Bible studies also, Jack & Cindy,
if you can please send to them the first study along with a Bible also. I
would be forever grateful to the both of you for doing this for me and my
family. Right now is a very hard time in our life and we all need to study
God's word to help us through the many months to come.
I just spoke to my son on the phone and he is very excited about doing the
studies and having his own Bible.
May God bless the both of you.
Sincerely, JPW, Texas
If you have not been receiving it but would like to, please let us know and we would be glad to add you to the list.
Our August sermon is entitled "A Teachable Spirit"--do you have one?
In His Service,
Jack and Cindy Jones