The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1921-08-19

for God took him."
How startling Is this invasion OF
life's order! We cannot understand
it. We have no precedents in our lit
tie world to help us. Nothing but
funeral bells tolling mournful process
sions, slowly vending their way to
the appointed place, and a precious
mound left in Gods acre as me-
mortal to those who have lived, and
loved-and gone.
But it was just as miraculous In
the days when Enoch lived as now,
for we read this sorrowful story of
mans day-"He lived''-"He begat
sons and daughters"-"He died"
This is the story, until we are star
tied with an interruption. Here is a
new epitaph, "Enoch walked with God,
and was not, for God took him" He
did not see death. Instead of the de-
scent into the grave, he went the
ascent unto God. What a reward
Not to see death, that last dread en-
emy. Such was Enoch's experience.
What for? Read the simple line that
records his exploits-''he walked with
God" Well, what is there in that to
earn distinction? Just this. Enoch
dared to do the unusual-to walk with
God when the whole world was walk
ing from Cod That was heroic
venture; to be different from all the
rest meant courage. "By faith Enoch
walked with God"
The whole content of our inquiry
centers in the phrase, walked with
God" What does that mean? 1t Is
very simple act to walk with one an
other, but to walk with God-that ts
different.
1t meant companionship with God.
Enoch went where God went, never
the opposite God chose the path and
Enoch followed.
A farmer deacon of mine had a
yoke of twin oxen, exactly alike-al-
ways ogether-inseparable but he
told me one always stepped off first
led the way. God always leads. There
can be no walk except we follow Him.
To walk with God meant to talk
with Him. This we call COMMUNION.
Talk and walk always go together.
But it is a peculiar kind Of talk;
strangely personal-sweetly confiden-
tiaI. Why? Because of the alone
ness; others are shut out. Many
home of love and happiness began in
a walk. The walk belongs to lovers.
Who can love and not talk about it?
God waits and longs to have US tell
Him that we love him.
To walk will, God meant to talk
about God Jude says, "Enoch
prophesied" which means "he talked
about" This is the inevitable of
walk-to talk about the one you have
walked with, for discoveries are made,
condolences are given, mysteries are
explained. But, oh, think of the ac-
cumulating wealth treasured up in a
walk with God. And 1t is so natural
to talk about God If we walk with
Him.
Now read the simple circumstance
of Enoch's walk: "He begat sons and
daughters.' In the midst of the daily
routine of bread winning-the prob
lens of bringing up the children-the
delicate relations with friends and
neighbors-"Enoch walked with Cod"
So can we. The same old trail can be
pressed by our feet, and the same,
beautiful walk and communion may
be ours.
Enoch was DOUBLY rewarded-he
pleased God. God told him so. He
saw the sunlit face of God. He caught
the overfowing JOY from the heart of
God. He lived in a garden of delights.
The gates of paradise welcomed him
to the old trysting place under the
tree of life"
Oh, think of all this-pleasing God.
So can we. The path Is here. Enoch's
COMPANION waits. VIII you go walk
ing with God? He was translated. We
may be. Enoch's reward was to be
shared with a generation. The apostle
Paul startles us with the betrayal of
a secret, "We shall not all Sleep" but
1--WE who are alive and remain shall
be caught up to be with the Lord"
This is the promised translation of
some. Oh. let us walk with God. 1t
NAV be that the end of our walk shall
be the open door of heaven admitting
us to glory 1t may be today? Oh, can
you say you are ready?