Lesson for Our Time
43
example, he would withdraw, to spend a season in solitude, hungering
and thirsting for that divine knowledge which God alone can impart.
Communing thus with God, Enoch came more and more to reflect
the divine image. His face was radiant with a holy light, even the light
that shineth in the face of Jesus. As he came forth from these divine
communings, even the ungodly beheld with awe the impress of heaven
upon his countenance.
His faith waxed stronger, his love became more ardent, with the
lapse of centuries. To him prayer was as the breath of the soul. He
lived in the atmosphere of heaven.
As the scenes of the future were opened to his view, Enoch became
a preacher of righteousness, bearing God’s message to all who would
hear the words of warning. In the land where Cain had sought to
flee from the divine presence, the prophet of God made known the
wonderful scenes that had passed before his vision. “Behold,” he
declared, “the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute
judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them
of all their ungodly deeds.” [
Jude 14, 15
.]
[53]
The power of God that wrought with His servant was felt by those
who heard. Some gave heed to the warning and renounced their sins;
but the multitudes mocked at the solemn message. The servants of
God are to bear a similar message to the world in the last days, and it
also will be received by the majority with unbelief and mockery.
As year after year passed, deeper and deeper grew the tide of human
guilt, darker and darker gathered the clouds of divine judgment. Yet
Enoch, the witness of faith, held on his way, warning, pleading, and
teaching, striving to turn back the tide of guilt and to stay the bolts of
vengeance.
The men of that generation mocked the folly of him who sought not
to gather gold or silver, or to build up possessions here. But Enoch’s
heart was upon eternal treasures. He had looked upon the celestial city.
He had seen the King in His glory in the midst of Zion. The greater
the existing iniquity, the more earnest was his longing for the home of
God. While still on earth, he dwelt by faith in the realms of light.
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” [
Matthew
5:8
.] For three hundred years Enoch had been seeking purity of heart,
that he might be in harmony with heaven. For three centuries he had
walked with God. Day by day he had longed for a closer union; nearer