Enoch and walking. ( Psalm 56 v 13 )

In Genesis 5 we read of a man who never died, Enoch, he lived for 365 years,mind blowing,but it was not until till he was 65 yrs that his life was changed, dramatically , he started walking,nothing unusual about that, this walk would last for 300 yrs.The point about this walk ,he had a very wonderful companion  for all those years ,God. It was a walk of faith (Hebrews 11 v 5 ),like Enoch  if we are to walk with God , no matter how long it will be, it must be a walk of faith, and it must begin with faith in Jesus.How can one possibly  walk with such an awesome person as God, simple ,we need to walk in the light ,John the apostle wrote,''If we claim claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth'.In 2 Corinthians 6 v 14,the question is asked, 'what fellowship can light have with darkness?.' The answer is very simple, none,so was Enoch perfect ?,no,but I am sure when he sinned, he sought immediate forgiveness,he may have at times fallen into sin but he would not have walked in sin.So if we want that continual walk with God as Enoch had,seek to be holy,seek to be obedient.

Inventing ( Mark 5 v 1 - 15 )

We owe much to mankind's ability to invent,but consider the following words to be found in Romans 1 v  30,in the N I V, translation, 'They invent ways of doing evil'.Most societies see drug taking as evil,because of its  serious consequences.Having worked among the mentally ill, I have known people whose minds have been permanently damaged through taking drugs. Recently while driving I had to slow down for a man who was carelessly walking across the road,I noticed that he was holding up a balloon up to his nose. Let me explain why he was  doing this, in recent times I have noticed little silver containers on the ground,I wondered why.These little containers ,contains a gas called nitrous  oxide that is used in in baking. People have discovered that they can get a high from this gas,so they release it into a balloon,they then inhale it.Yes mankind is very inventive in discovering new ways of  doing evil. Addiction is not something that people can be reasoned out of, may you realise, if you are addictive to whatever ,that you need help,seek it while you can,and above all else call upon Jesus who can save to the uttermost.

There is hope. ( Revelation 22 v 20 )

More conflict has broken out between the Kurds and Turkey, it must be horrendous to live in these warring situations,there is so much conflict in this world.I have lived through the conflict in Ulster it was not nice to say the least,people being shot ,bombed intimidated, the pain many were going through,was awful. The conflict was between the Nationalist and Unionist,atrocities were committed on both sides,  one group was known as the Shankill butchers, because of their brutality. Our dear Saviour said there would be wars and rumours of wars,in Luke 21 v 9, He says ,''these things  must happen''. Yes there is an inevitability in the continual violence in the world,for mankind is at war with God and their fellow human beings,but one day all will change.When? when Jesus comes back,and He will bring in a new heaven and a new earth, just imagine, no more murders,no more violence, we will live in a non - violent society,the way it was meant be.Yes because of Christ there is hope for all who trust Him.

Only God. ( Genesis 1 v 11 )

Again let us consider ,that there are none so blind that do not see.It is the apostle Paul who writes about God revealing Himself in creation,he writes the following,''For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities  -his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, been understood from what has been made ,so that men are without excuse.'' Someone wrote ,'that God's fingerprints are on every  snowflake,and that His signature is in the stars for us to read and recognize'. In the words of the poem by Joyce Kilmer ,''Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a  tree''.

Impossible (Genesis 1 v 1 )

There is a saying ,that there are none so blind as those who do not see,see what?,a good question. Occasionally we hear on the news these words,that hopefully we will know how this universe came into being.Let me ask the question ,if matter is not eternal how did it come into being?. I read this recently,'if the energy levels in carbon and oxygen were only a fraction of a per cent different to what they are,there would be no carbon in the universe and therefore no you and me'.The same author writes,''Why dose the universe seem so well set up for life''? If the universe started with the big bang ,why is are the sun,moon, and earth round, an explosion of any kind does not produce nice little round objects,everything would be distorted.It is inconceivable that this world with all its variety, design ,and order could have just happened,it is impossible.

Consequences ( Psalm 51 v 1- 2 )

One final thought on David and the terrible things he did,he did it because he could do it,no one stopped him, no one challenged him.So the wicked sinful deeds were done ,for David it was time  to move on,but there is an interesting verse in Numbers 32 v 23, which reads, 'be sure that your sin will find you out'. And so it came to pass ,we read that the thing David had done, displeased the Lord. ( 2 Samuel 11 v 27).There are no secrets before our all seeing God, and so God sent a man, a prophet to expose the evil that David had done,his name was  Nathan. Although God sent him it took courage for this man of God to challenge the king,and it demanded obedience, we are told to obey is better than sacrifice( 1 Samuel 15 v 22 ). Nathan spoke the word ,David was convicted David confessed, repented and was forgiven.But there was a price to pay, the little child that was born out of his adulteress  relationship died, and a prophecy of a calamity coming upon him in a coming day,from within his own  household. (  2 Samuel 12 v 11). Sin will be forgiven if we ask, but sometimes we do suffer the consequences of what we have done, the more serious aspect of sin, that is not forgiven, is the eternal consequences . ( Revelation 20 v 11 - 15 ) The answer is, turn to Christ , for forgiveness ,and ask Him to save you, and so escape the terrible consequences .

Shiloh. ( Colossians 1 v 19 - 20 )

On April 6th, 1862 one of the major battles took place in the American civil war,it was the battle of Shiloh over 110,000 forces engaged in this conflict, it resulted in over 23,000 casualties,the battle was won by the Union. The name Shiloh comes from the Bible,  meaning peace ,we find it in Genesis 49 v 10. there its meaning relates to the coming Messiah, we read,' until Shiloh comes'.So the person would have the name meaning peace, in Isaiah 9 v 6 ,the coming Messiah is called the Prince of Peace. On Calvary on that old rugged cross, a battle raged , all the forces of hell,and all the evil that humanity could sum up,attacked our Messiah. Christ our Shiloh, won that battle that day for me and you,when He defeated all the forces against Him.and made possible for all who trust Him ,to know peace with God.