Here is a bi-weekly email devotional that you can subscribe to.. its great teachings and a blessing forsure:...WORD FOR THE WEEK 08 August 2004Christian Fellowship Centre,40 Da Costa Square, Bangalore 560084, Indiahttp://www.poonen.org/zachttp://www.cfcindia.com------------------------------------------------------------ ENOCH PLEASED GOD \t Zac PoonenIn just three words the Holy Spirit records the testimonyof Enoch's life: "He pleased God" (Heb. 11:5). There isno mention of wealth amassed or of earthly honoursobtained. There is no record of sermons preached orof good deeds done, nor even of the souls led to Godthrough his witness. Neither are we told how popularor famous he became. No, instead of all this his life issummed up in that one tense sentence, "He pleasedGod." It is indeed the only thing that will have value ineternity. The Bible tells us that God created all things"for his pleasure" (Rev. 4:11). It follows therefore thatthe measure in which we please God is the truemeasure of the effectiveness of our lives. In no otherway is the cost of our redemption justified. Our veryexistence on earth is meaningless if God is not therebyglorified. How subtle is the self-life, how deceitful the humanheart! How readily does it lead us captive to thisworld's treasures! "Oh," it exclaims, "such wealth andpleasure are too precious by far to be given up for thedoubtful satisfaction of following the Lord utterly. Surelythis Christian race can be run on easier terms! Publicopinion is against extremes. Let us take it easy. Let uslive for God in moderation!" May God deliver us fromsuch faithless thinking. He would have us lay asideevery weight and go for the prize. He desires that weshould turn from the world's base standards and besatisfied with nothing less than His highest. Whatmatters the honour of men to the man whom Godwould honour? Of what value is this world's wealthwhen heaven's wealth is at stake?Do you seek earthly security for your life? Do you hopesomehow to insure it against the risks of faith? Then,believe me, you will most certainly lose it. You will havenothing to show at the end. Change you mind! Beprepared to throw away your life for Jesus' sake. Sufferhardship for His gospel. You will never regret thedecision. You will find there is no waste, no true loss atall. On the contrary you will discover that eternal fruitsspring from the seed you have planted. The heavenlyrewards will far outweigh the offering you lay at Hisfeet. For "the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1John 2:17). In the day when Christ returns in glory andthe present order of things is no more, they who havefollowed Him wholly will forget all the costliness in theunspeakable joys before them.I have often thought of a picture of the day that iscoming when we shall be caught up to the portals ofheaven's glory to stand before our Lord. Then, in thepresence of the highest dignitaries of heaven,redeemed men and women who on earth have beenfaithful to their trust will be rewarded by the King ofkings Himself. I can imagine, in that day, Enochwalking forward when his name is called, and thecitation being read: "He pleased God." Yes, he mayhave been mocked and ridiculed on earth for threehundred years and more but now amidst deafeningangelic applause he is decorated with heaven'shighest award for gallantry in battle.I see, too, the apostle Paul step forward when his turncomes to receive a similar recognition. On earth hewas a considered a fanatic and a fool; here there islaid up for him a crown of life. All the years of sufferingare forgotten in that moment of time. The joy that takesits place springs from the knowledge that God hasbeen pleased, and this is a joy that abides for alleternity.And then your turn will come, and mine. What will thecitation read, dear brother, dear sister? When we standthere stripped of all the religious veneer, all theoutward sham and pretense that covered our lives onearth, what will be left? Will you know only sorrow atyour emptiness in that day? Will you bitterly regret theworthless choices made, the opportunities lightlythrown away? Or will you take your place therealongside Enoch and Paul? These are urgentquestions, for they relate not to something I haveimagined up, but to stark reality. Something like thescene I have crudely depicted above will take place inactuality when Christ Jesus returns, and many, we arewarned, will be ashamed before Him at His coming.Let us, then, give earnest heed to His Word. Let ustake serious account of priorities of life, for eternalvalues hang upon them. And let us determine from thisday to give the supreme place to our Lord Jesus in allthings. There is a life to be lived on earth, and a race tobe run, that will call for everything we have to give. Butthe race has a goal, and the life has a prize, alongsidewhich all that earth has to offer will seem but the vilestrefuse. For when we enter the presence of the King, nomusic will compare with His welcoming words: "Welldone, good and faithful servant! Enter thou into the joyof thy Lord." "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward iswith me, to give to every man according as his workshall be." (Revelation 22:12)------------------------------------------------------------For more information, write to: Christian Fellowship Centreat the following e-mail address:cfcwfw@touchtelindia.net------------------------------------------------------------To read or download previous issues of "WORD FOR THE WEEK"please go to : http://www.cfcindia.com
