Pastor Daniel Kolenda
‘By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.’ – Hebrews 11:5-6
Fellowship is faith. When we’re talking about faith, we’re talking about something that is action-oriented. We heal the sick, we preach the gospel, and we cast out devils—all of these things we do by faith.
But we must be careful that our relationship with God does not get reduced to what we can do for God. The Jewish people came out of a tradition that emphasized what they did for God and often took pride in this. But actually, what they did for God was void of a vibrant relationship with God. The author of Hebrews wants the Jews to know that you can do all of the right things for God but if you don’t do it through faith it’s not pleasing to God.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
BELIEVE THAT HE IS
What does a life that is pleasing God through faith look like? The latter part of Hebrews 11:6 says, “For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.”
What does it mean to seek God? How do we seek someone or look for someone who is invisible? When asked what he would do if when he died he discovered there really is a God, famous British philosopher, Bertrand Russell said, he would ask ‘Why did you take such pains to hide yourself.’
Isaiah 45:15 says, “Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.”
Psalms 18:11 says, “He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water.”
2 Chronicles 6:1 says, “He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water.”
If you’re going to come to God and seek Him then you must believe that He is. The real treasures and mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven were reserved for the ones who lived, ate, and served with Jesus. The revelation of God’s glory is so high, deep, and beautiful that the fact that man has the invitation to gaze upon the veiled form of God is a wonder greater than the Creator of the universe itself.
God does not give Himself to the person with the lowest bid. His deep waters are not for the casual enquirer. He wants commitment, devotion, and intimacy. He cloaks Himself in darkness and reserves the riches of His glory for those that would desire Him more than life itself.
If you’re going to come to God to seek Him, then you must believe that He is.
A REWARDER OF THOSE THAT SEEK HIM
The scripture does not say what the reward is for those that diligently seek Him, but what if it did? Imagine a $10 million dollar compensation for seeking Him. No doubt that you would find yourself praying, fasting, and singing worship music a bit more because you want that reward.
The ability that a reward has to incentivize you is in direct proportion to your perceived value of the reward. If there was a very high reward for catching someone dangerous then this may catch your interest enough for you to attempt it. So what is the reward for seeking God?
Genesis 15:1 says, “After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
So what do you do now that you know that the reward for seeking God is God Himself? Is that reward incentive enough for you to cause you to pursue Him and seek Him?
Is the reward of God Himself more valuable to you than $25 million dollars? If you are not motivated to seek God that means you don’t believe that He is and that He’s a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. Or maybe you do believe that He is and that He’s a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him but you don’t find the reward that is being offered, which is God Himself, worth the trouble.
If that promise of God’s very person and presence is not an incentive that makes you find the pursuit irresistible and doesn’t cause you to pursue Him relentlessly then no matter what you profess with your lips, your heart does not really desire.
Instead of talking about how Enoch did everything right, the writer of Hebrews said that Enoch did what he did by faith. And if Enoch pleased God then we know that he had faith because, without faith, it is impossible to please God.
If you really believe that He exists and is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him then your faith will translate directly into fellowship. The ones that pursue Him, invest their time in Him, set apart their hearts, time, worship, and prayer are the ones that believe in Him.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
How are you seeking Him? Are you spending time in worship and prayer? Are you giving your time to Him with ministry?
Is God more valuable to you than the crowds? Is He more precious to you than the souls? Remember, it’s not about what you can do for God but doing it through faith to please Him
Do you need to recalibrate your heart? Declare that nothing else will do but Him
