Read: Hebrews 11:1-7
Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God. Genesis 5:23-24
You gotta admire Cal Ripken Jr. The longtime shortstop for the Batimore Orioles retired at the end of the 2001 baseball season after 21 years at one of baseball’s most demanding positions. Along the way he set the record for the most consecutive games played, 2,632. Twice he won the award for the American League’s Most Valuable Player. He started 16 consecutive All-Star Games, and he is one of only seven players with 3,000 or more career hits and 400 home runs.
No wonder they call Ripken the Iron Man! You knew that every day he was going to show up, play his best, and come back and do it again the next day. He said the on the day he announced his retirement, “I tried to love every minute I was on the field. I accomplished what my skill set and my determination and my ability allowed me to do.” We need more iron men in a day when sports and politics and life are full of crybabies, whiners and quitters.
In Hebrews11, the Bible’s “Faith Hall of Fame,” an iron man named Enoch is honored. He lived 365 years, and we are told that he “walked with God” (Genesis 5:24) Because of the depth and determination of his faith, Enoch was rewarded by a quick trip to heaven, and by being named Hebrews 11.
The Lord Jesus needs iron women. He needs young people to start walking with Him in high school or earlier, continue to be faithful through college, and stay with Him throughout their lives. When dawn comes, they begin the day with God. When night comes, they are still trudging along, faithful to Him. Sure, they will make errors. But they will stay true to Jesus till He calls them home. – Dave Egner
R E F L E C T I O N
● Do I have an” iron man” temperament? Or do I give up quickly? How can I improve my staying power?
