Enoch
[Read Genesis 5:22, Hebrews 11:5 and Jude 1:14]
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews opens with a definition of faith. Jesus’ teaching allowed for no limits to the power of faith. The story of Enoch is an example of having such faith. I find the last words of verse 5 to be telling, “he had pleased God.”
One of the things I love about the Advent season is that it opens in darkness but ends in light. A world condemned to the mean state of hopelessness and death has been given hope through the Christ child.
Right now, everything from the pandemic to political strife can feel like darkness threatening to envelop our lives. Faith is not found in darkness but rather in the light of God.
After all these years I am still deeply moved when the lights go out on Christmas Eve and only candlelight remains. Each face lit by a single candle. Darkness recedes as the light spreads; it is the light of Christ shining in the darkness reflected in the face of the believer which no darkness can overcome. God was pleased to send light into the world through His Son.
During Advent search out the meaning of faith and what it can mean for you. Hold trust in God alone and the Word of God; as Enoch’s faith demonstrates this is pleasing to God. May God bless you and your family this season of Advent.
Pastor David Leistra
Sturgeon Bay United Methodist
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews opens with a definition of faith. Jesus’ teaching allowed for no limits to the power of faith. The story of Enoch is an example of having such faith. I find the last words of verse 5 to be telling, “he had pleased God.”
One of the things I love about the Advent season is that it opens in darkness but ends in light. A world condemned to the mean state of hopelessness and death has been given hope through the Christ child.
Right now, everything from the pandemic to political strife can feel like darkness threatening to envelop our lives. Faith is not found in darkness but rather in the light of God.
After all these years I am still deeply moved when the lights go out on Christmas Eve and only candlelight remains. Each face lit by a single candle. Darkness recedes as the light spreads; it is the light of Christ shining in the darkness reflected in the face of the believer which no darkness can overcome. God was pleased to send light into the world through His Son.
During Advent search out the meaning of faith and what it can mean for you. Hold trust in God alone and the Word of God; as Enoch’s faith demonstrates this is pleasing to God. May God bless you and your family this season of Advent.
Pastor David Leistra
Sturgeon Bay United Methodist
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