In the last blog post, we discussed about GOD being the best friend of our life. (If you missed, you can read it here). In this article, we will discuss about becoming a friend of GOD.
We all love to have at least a friend in our life. Some stay lifelong while some others stay for a season or a period GOD has appointed for them in our lives. Either way, we learn and grow from them, the lessons that GOD wants us to learn. In friendship, we spend time, communicate and if possible, we hang out with them. One of the best examples of being a friend of GOD is shown through the life of Enoch. He is not described as a friend of GOD anywhere in the Bible, but his life shows that he was a friend of GOD. “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him.” Genesis 5:24.
To be someone’s friend, both of them should be in sync. People with different perspectives or thought processes can never be good friends as conflicts and confusions may arise. We read in Hebrews.11.5, “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.” The only thing that Enoch focused in his life was to please GOD. According to the Old Testament, GOD was pleased only in the sacrifices of the people. (Genesis 4:4). What pleasing sacrifice could Enoch have made in his life? Enoch had the desire to grow as per the standards of GOD, and thus he amended his life according to GOD’s guidance. This was accepted as the greatest sacrifice in God’s presence that He was pleased in him. To make this statement clear, we can quote Romans 12:2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Enoch was successful in presenting his body as a living sacrifice to the LORD. He succeeded in crucifying his flesh to live in the life of GOD. An important fact that every Christian should understand in life is, “GOD will never widen the boundaries of holiness He has set, to accommodate us. Instead, we have to cultivate the desire to grow to His standards of holiness.”
James in his epistle calls Abraham as GOD’s friend (James 2:23). ““Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.” The qualification that James quotes in the above verse may seem simple to us- Abraham’s belief in GOD. Belief is to place one’s trust in GOD’s promise and His words. When we put our trust in GOD, we take steps of faith that may seem foolish and impossible in the eyes of the world. Or else, we can say that trust is the factor of dependency on GOD. The more we trust, the more we depend on GOD.
How can someone be called a friend of GOD only by believing? Abraham was called so as he had undivided belief in GOD. He never let the impossibilities of his life engulf his faith in the LORD. Abraham’s faith in the LORD made him blind to the situations of his life, but he obeyed whatever GOD had asked him to do. When a person has such a strong faith in GOD, he will:
1) Take steps of faith to move to a land unseen (Genesis 12)
2) Draw a strong boundary of holiness with GOD’s guidance (Genesis 13)
3) Believe GOD and HIS promises blindly (Genesis 15)
4) Discern the people who comes before him (Genesis 18)
5) Intercede for others as he knows that GOD will hear him (Genesis 18)
6) Take stern decisions of worship just as He commands (Genesis 22)
Enoch’s life was so GOD-ordained that all his decisions were anointed by GOD. Some of the decisions made by Abraham may have seemed foolish even to his family, but his prime focus was to please GOD. The one who desires to be a friend of GOD is always humiliated by others as people may not understand the guidance and boundaries GOD has asked them to keep. Their only focus is to please the Master and they were always focused about the race that they were in. Their eyes were always fixed on things above (Colossians 3:1), and they stood alone for their faith. A friend of GOD never makes compromises with the world as they know that it will take them out of track and will hinder their relationship with GOD.
One who is filled with GOD has no space to accommodate the world and a heart that runs after the world cannot comprehend GOD’s guidance as the love of the world is always in enmity with GOD.
We have a large crowd of Christians who have completed their race with faith and who were a friend of GOD. Now, we are on the track. Is Jesus our ‘the best friend’? Have we made compromises to the world? “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:17). Just as trust and support are essential in a worldly friendship, remember to please GOD and to believe Him completely as these are the factors through which we can maintain the bond of friendship with GOD. A healthy friendship always needs communication. So spend time with GOD, and allow Him to guide you. Let His heart’s desire be done through your life. Be a friend of GOD, hate what is evil and run the race with holiness.
GOD bless you!
