Many characters in the Old Testament would be very interesting to sit down and talk. I believe, for myself, I would have loved to sit down and talked with Enoch. I do not know if there is a more interesting character than Enoch for the simple reason we don’t know very much about him.
He must have been a very interesting man and a very wonderful person.
His testimony is seen in Genesis 5:21-24.
The fascinating phrase here is, “Enoch walked with God.” It is hard for us to imagine what that really meant, but I believe it is something for us to ponder.
If this was all there was concerning Enoch, we would not have too much to think about. However, the fact that he is included in Hebrews chapter 11, the great Hall of Faith, puts a completely new twist on this picture.
Hebrews 11:5-6
“5By 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.
6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Between Genesis and Hebrews, we conclude that Enoch had a very special relationship with God.
In this context, I cannot help but thinking of Amos 3:3. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
Basically, this is what our passage in Song of Solomon is all about. I can boil it down to one word; companionship.
The bride is celebrating this companionship with the groom that has become her everyday experience. Although her past is full of up-and-down experiences, her focus now is on this matter of companionship.
When a couple gets married the most important thing about that relationship is companionship. And, the most important thing about my relationship with Christ is companionship.
Let me pose a question here.
Why do you want to be a Christian?
Along with that, what does being a Christian really mean to you?
Your answer will really define your understanding of what it means to be a Christian.
My answer is simply this, Companionship. There is no other way to define in one word what it means truly to be a Christian.
I want to clearly define what our companionship with Christ is all about.
First of all, the definition of companionship is a feeling of fellowship or friendship. A sense of closeness.
This is what it really means to “walk with God.”
How do I get to this point of delighting in Divine companionship?
I. The Basis of This Companionship
So much fluff in the Christian community today that it is very hard to get to the basics of what it is all about. The general population in America has no idea of what it really means to be “born again” Christian.
They have allowed Hollywood and Wall Street and Nashville to define what Christianity is all about.
For many people Christianity is just a jacket they put on for special occasions, then take it off after that is over and get back to their life is normal.
For the life of me, I do not understand how anybody could really be happy with that kind of Christianity. It is a farce and does not impact daily living.
When I understand this matter of companionship, I begin to see that the basis of it is a commitment to Jesus Christ.
It is first a commitment to Jesus Christ as a person. I get to know him and allow him to get to know me and the relationship grows each day.
Of course, that commitment is based upon what Jesus Christ did on the cross. My commitment cannot exceed his commitment to me. Once I begin to understand, I begin to understand the delightful side of my commitment to Jesus Christ.
Not only is it a commitment to the person of Jesus Christ, but also to the values of Jesus Christ.
As my companionship develops and grows, I begin to understand Jesus as a person and begin to understand his values.
This is where that verse in Amos comes to play, “how can two walk together except they be agreed.” This agreement includes a value system.
The Basis of my companionship with Jesus Christ is understanding his values from his perspective. I do not allow the world’s values to compromise my companionship with Jesus Christ.
What this adds up to is a very radical separation from the world. Unfortunately, not many people today, especially in America, want to be radically separated from the world. They are willing to compromise this Divine companionship available to them because of the values of the world that impresses them.
II. The Benefits of This Companionship
Once I understand the basis of this Divine companionship, I begin to see the benefits that are associated with this.
If I have developed a very good companionship with somebody, I also share in certain benefits with that person. And so it is with Christ. As I get to know him and as my companionship begins to develop, I begin to understand the benefits of really following Jesus Christ.
Let me try to sum it up as succinctly as I can.
The primary benefit of this Divine companionship is access to God’s unlimited grace. Let me emphasize that word “unlimited.” Whatever God has, he has unlimited. There are no boundaries or limits to what God has.
If I begin to understand the unlimited grace of God that is available to me, the quality of my life, my walk with God, rises dramatically. Which means, my companionship with God knows no limit.
My walk with God today is not based upon my walk with God yesterday, but rather on the unlimited grace of God. I am not looking back, but I am pressing forward in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit.
Another benefit of this Divine companionship is something that is not very well known or talked about today. I am referring to what is called a divine afflatus. I know that word is not too familiar with many Christians today, but I want you to understand what it means.
Afflatus means, to breathe or blow on, the act of blowing or breathing on. We also get the word “inspiration” which means the breath of God.
In Genesis 2:7, we have the first use of this.
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Simply put, man was created by God for this divine afflatus, the breath of God upon him that created his soul. No other creature is referred in this way, not even the angels.
The fall of man created the depravity, which simply means he is separated from this breath of God. In redemption, we are brought back to this point of receiving now the breath of God upon our life.
To understand the benefits of this Divine companionship is to create an expectation that only God can create in my life and only God can fulfill.
III. The Behavior of This Companionship
This behavior has nothing to do with learning how to do something. Rather, a behavior flows from this divine companionship.
We could spend weeks talking about this behavior, but let me try to be quick on this.
I think the overriding behavior associated with this divine companionship is a spirit of reverence. We certainly live in a culture that despises reverence and I am afraid it has slipped into the church.
You can always tell someone who is walking in this divine companionship because they will have over them this cloud of reverence. It is not something that you can really define in human terms, but you know that it is there.
That person who is walking in Divine companionship will have an overwhelming sense of the presence of God upon their life.
I think the key to this behavioral aspect has to do with cultivating a sacred mindset. We live in a very coarse culture and it is exhibited by a number of things.
Our language…
Our dress…
Our priorities…
Right here let me say that I do not believe that you can control people by laying down rules and regulations. I’m not against rules and regulations, but the more a person is delighting in this divine companionship the less rules and regulations they really need.
Perhaps the best way to describe this behavior is by saying it is living the Christ life. The spontaneous expression of Christ
The apostle Paul put it this way,
Philippians 1:21 – “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
And,
Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
My behavior exposes the true me.
Conclusion…
So, why do you want to be a Christian?
Have you discovered in your journey to heaven this truth I’m talking about, delighting in Divine companionship?
