Pleasing God

Hebrews 11:5 KJV
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

I was reading Hebrews 11 today as part of my devotions, and came across this scripture. It began to speak to me and minister to my spirit. Hebrews eleven is referred to as the faith chapter. It mentions many members of the heroes of faith. One of those mentioned is a man named Enoch.

There isn’t a whole lot mentioned about Enoch in the scripture, just a few short verses. The thing that stood out to me the most was that Enoch pleased God.

There are so many voices, and people in our world today. People live their lives to try to please a plethora of things or people. Some live to please their spouses, their boss, or maybe a group of people they are trying to fit in with. Some may be living to please a group of coworkers, or a board of some sort. But Enoch had the testimony that he pleased God.

This amazes me, and gives me faith at the same time. There is an old saying that says that you will never please everyone all of the time and it’s true. But there is a desire in my heart to please one person most of all, and that is God.

I never met Enoch, I don’t know a whole lot about him. I do know that he was a man, just like any other man. I’m sure that he faced many of the same struggles, fears, and things that any of the rest of us deal with. Yet it was said that he pleased God. I think that so many times we get our thoughts backwards, we allow a defeatist attitude encompass us.

We take the easy road and say that no one is perfect, that it’s impossible to do everything right, but I can’t help but wonder. I wonder if we have been sold a bill of goods. If we have bought into an idea that has lead to an easier road. A lighter path to travel so to speak. But at the same time it reverberates through my heart that somehow Enoch was able to do it! He pleased God! He pleased him so much that the scripture in Genesis says that he was not! For god took him!

What a thought! Pleasing God so much that he wanted to be with Enoch in such a way that he reached down and brought Enoch to himself! We need to get past making excuses, of tip toeing around conviction, and getting to the point. We need to pattern and live our lives in such a way that it is pleasing to God! We need to take the high road so to speak. Job was bragged on by God, and Enoch pleased God.

Is there really a reason to not please him today?