I posted a letter last week about walking with God the way Henoch did. This raised the question of how did he walk with God? The Bible doesn’t tell us.
The first answer would be that a person constantly has to acknowledge the presence of Jesus. Another reason, I suppose, is illustrated at a school’s year-end function.
A scholar of a primary school received three trophies last week. First was the Ambassador trophy and then the trophy for the Sportsman of the year. When he was presented with the trophy of the most versatile student, the audience kept applauding the young lad for quite a while.
For any student this would be a great achievement but for Nielbert it was special because he only has 40% eyesight. Being one of triplets, his parents did not want him separated from his brother and sister and enrolled him in a normal school.
He received this bundle of trophies because behind him were two wonderful parents and two wonderful siblings, all of them filled with the Holy Spirit.
We know therefore that the honour belongs to Jesus. However, this is not the way Jesus sees it. He told a parable once about the time when He would return. On that day He will give His kingdom to all the people who gave Him water to drink, food to eat or a place to sleep. (Mat 25:31-46)
The people asked Jesus how would that be possible because they never gave Him a thing. He told them that anything any person gives to someone else is seen by Him as having been given to Him personally.
Imagine you give something to someone or assist someone and Jesus says, “thank you My child.”
That great feeling inside your heart, making you feel so good when you give, is the words of Jesus, “I love you.”
It opens our eyes toward other people. Standing in a long queue at the supermarket and someone with one item arrives. If it was Jesus we would give Him space before us. Jesus says, “open your eyes, it is”.
That is not for family members or believers only. In the parable Jesus also includes the stranger. Those we don’t know from a bar of soap. (v 35)
Even when it is evident this person is clearly not a Christian, we should look at him as someone created in the image of Jesus. If the person rejects you or your offer, you’re off the hook.
I know my body looks like Jesus’ because we are created in His image. I know that when we serve people the way Jesus did, our spirits take the shape of Jesus’ Spirit.
Now we can imagine how Nielbert’s parents look like, and his siblings and his teachers, sport trainers, friend’s parents and fellow scholars. They must paint a pretty picture in Jesus’ Family album.
Lastly, Nielbert should tap himself on the shoulder too. I am sure he doesn’t need 100% eyesight to know he is formed in the image of Jesus with a spirit to match.
I can also imagine Henoch walking like this many, many years ago.