The Tupelo journal., 1912-06-07

two thousand
years, and then it 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 climes Of bliss,
Exempt from death.
Possibly the same queries were
made then that would be made now,
as to the mysterious disappearance Of
a person. and among others this Ques-
ton would be asked, I'm whose COM
pany was he last seem" Our text
tells US. and the answer presents to US
a fact that Is Of practical interest and
which we will consider. He was last
seen walking with God.
Can a Man Walk With God7
Why not? Is not a mar 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. yet the purpose Of mans crea-
ton that he should hold the closest
fellowship with God remains, and If,
recognizing his marred 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 l walk
through the valley Of the shadow Of
death, / will fear no evil . 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, II 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 a
That leads me to the Larnb
Walking with God involves separa-
ton from the world, a negative re-
suit. 1t 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 mar
may possess are holiness, merciful-
ness. the spirit Of self-sacriice, and
love.
Enoch Walked With God 800 Years.
Walking with God implies prolong-
ed and constant companionship with
him, and 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 u~nselfshly, Is this
walk for mans benefit? 1t implies a
mutual comforting Of benefits.
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 It
Is to have God take US into his con-
idence, and reveal to us the depths
Of his love for US!
In the case Of Enoch we. have a sug-
gestion that a 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 yet
to be shed for him, he had blessings In
Gods presence greater than those Of
angels. Waking with God is q proph-
ecy Of heavenly translation.
Do Not Require Alcohol.
people in ordinary health do not