Enoch is an example of acceptable religious service. Enoch came before the Law but fulfilled the intent of the Law. Enoch loved God. Enoch walked with God. God was first in all his thoughts.

Enoch lived 365 years but his son, Methuselah, lived 969 years. Enoch's time on earth was relatively short because God wanted this man in His immediate presence.

Enoch lived prior to the old and new covenants. But he fulfilled the intent of each of the covenants by living by faith in God instead of by his own wisdom and strength.

Enoch was on the earth thousands of years ago, before Calvary, before new-covenant grace, before the Apostles, before the gifts of the Spirit. He was not born again by the resurrection Life of the Lord Jesus. Yet the Spirit holds up Enoch as an example of what God means by "the just shall live by faith."

The only acceptable religious service we can render is to offer our body as a living sacrifice to God.

To Exercise Faith Is To Seek God

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

If we would come to God in faith we must believe He exists. Even the existence of God is questioned by many in the so-called civilized nations. Perhaps the natives in the bush do not have quite the same problem believing there is a God.

However, mere belief in the existence of God is not enough to please Him.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2:19)

The person of faith is the one who believes that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

We can choose to occupy our time and energy with accumulating material goods or we can occupy our time and energy with seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Every human being born on the earth must make this decision because we cannot seek both material goods and the Kingdom of God.

Seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness does not mean we cease performing our daily work. But it does mean the prime energies of our life are devoted to serving the Lord Jesus. We know we are serving the Lord Jesus when we are giving time to prayer each day, we are reading and meditating in the Scriptures, we are gathering together with the saints whenever possible, we are giving, serving, coveting the ministries and gifts of the Spirit and doing all else in our power to please God. Such service is not to come after we have spent ourselves in the work of the world but should be given the best of our thought and concern.

Are you giving your best to the Lord?

God rewards those who diligently seek Him. We may have heard this many times but it appears numerous Christians are not persuaded of its truth.

To be continued.