The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-05-02

| N:22i huUW, IOT nearly
~! - y D. two thousan
Years, and then 1t was merely said
GOD took HIM" Then another period
OF about two thousand years passed
when the mystery was further cleared
up. the record showing that the man
had been translated that he should
not see death He was the only man
OF the patriarchal era, as Moses was
of the Jewish era, and Christ was OF
the Christian era, to be taken to heav.
en- by translation.
He walketh with God
High in salvation and the chimes of bliss,
Exempt from death.
Possibly the same queries were
made then that would be made now,
as to the mysterious disappearance of
person, and among others this ques-
ton would be asked, in whose com
pany was he last SEEM Our text
tells US, and the answer presents to us
fact that is of practical interest and
which we will consider. He was last
seen walking with God.
Can a Man Walk With God2
Why not? Is not man created in
the image and likeness of God, in
righteousness and true holiness? AL
though the features of this common
likeness are battered out OF recogni-
ton, yes the purpose Of mans crea-
ton that he should hold the closest
fellowship with God remains, and If,
recognizing his married condition he
comes in penitence to God as David
came, he will be received as one after
Gods own heart and walk close with
him.
AS to the fact of walking with God.
we have, first, the case in question.
Then we have the clear statement
that Noah walked with God. Near
the end of the Old Testament we have
the statement that certain priests
walked with God in peace and equity.
The Psalmist said, Though walk
through the valley of the shadow of
death, will fear no evil 49,. thou
art with me-" If we believe that the
fourth person in the furnace into
which the three Hebrew children were
cast was the Son OF God, again do we
have men walking with God, for the
king said, Il see four men loose, walk
ing in the fire." All through the CEN
turtles men and women have. walked
with God, and no picture of touching
elbows or linking arms Is too strong
to express the contact. Walking with
God is the Christians goal, and he
sings:
So shall my walk be close with God
Calm and serene my frame,
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
Walking with God involves separa-
tion from the world, negative re-
suit. II then involves congeniality in
personal qualities. "Can two walk
together unless they be agreed?" In
the case Of man walking with God, the
qualities in God must indicate the
mutual qualities, and those which man
may possess are holiness, merciful-
ness, the spirit of self-sacrifice. and
love.
Enoch Walked With God 800 Years.
Walking with God implies prolong-
ed and constant companionship with
him, land in the case before US, the
walk continued for 300 years. When
Jesus called his disciples he said, "Fol-
low me- meaning that he would have
his disciples attach themselves close
ly to his person, and at the end of his
ministry he commended those who
were then with him.
We cannot ask unselfishly, is this
walk for mans benefit? 1t implies a.
mutual comforting Of benefits. AS man
thinks of his comforting benefits on
God he hides his face In shame, but
God acknowledges the obligation on
his part and pours himself out to man.
Such walk implies that each person
concerned has pledged himself to the
blessing Of his companion, and one re-
suit of that blessing is unbreakable
friendship. which, through the CEN
turtles. has been esteemed a golden
virtue. God as a friend, sticketh
close- than brother Jesus said, II
colled you friends"
A natural consequence of walking
with God will be close intimacy with
out any suggestion of offensive famil-
iarity. God holds. trysts with his peo-
pie. Christ and his people have COM
mon secrets; all that is Christ's be-
longs to his followers. How sweet il
is to have God take us into his con-
fidence, and reveal to us the depths
of his love for us!
In the case of ,Enoch we have a sue-
gestion that prolonged walk with
God will result in something better
than any communion to be realized on
earth. Enoch was translated. and
God took him to himself and redeemed
as he was by the blood of Christ vet
to be shed for him, he had blessings in
Gods presence greater than those Of
angels. Walking with God is proph-
ecy of heavenly translation.