Keys to the Kingdom

We’ve heard the colloquial expression, “She can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.“ There’s some truth to that because we’re not supposed to talk on the phone and drive at the same time. Blabbing is a huge distraction from whatever I’m trying to do. That’s why I don’t really want anyone in the kitchen while I’m fixing a meal — “I can’t think what I’m doing.” One time I was talking on the phone while walking briskly in my pasture (killing two birds with one stone). After the conversation ended, I walked to the house and suddenly realized my legs had turned to rubber and were completely worn out. I hadn’t the foggiest idea I‘d talked and walked for an hour!

We don’t know much about Enoch in the Old Testament, but his brief biography always inspires me. He was the great grandfather of Noah, and a prophet who preached to the unbelievers of his day about God‘s judgment to come. “Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him” (Genesis 5:23,24 NLT). This particular Bible translation specifically mentions how Enoch lived — which was walking in “close fellowship with God.”

Enoch’s departure was a fading away, a ceasing to be here. Can you imagine the possibility of God saying: “You know what, Enoch, we‘ve walked so far today that we‘re closer to My house than yours. Why don‘t you just come home with Me?” Enoch was translated into God’s presence without experiencing death. He simply walked his race right through the pearly gates. I wonder what Enoch’s family thought when he didn’t come home for supper after his daily walk.

In 1963, J. S. Eastman composed the lyrics and music to the song, “I’m Nearer Home (Than I was Yesterday)” as recorded by the Happy Goodman Family. I wonder if Enoch‘s life could have inspired these words: “I’m nearer home than I was yesterday. I’m closer to God along the way. Each step I take, each prayer I pray, I’m nearer home than I was yesterday.” Enoch had persevering attention for God and was an excellent model of what it meant to draw close to God. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8 NKJV).

The New Testament records Enoch as a great example of faith: “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying — ‘he disappeared, because God took him.‘ For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God‘” (Hebrews 11:5 NLT).

I’m grateful that God continues to work with me as I walk with Him. “I am confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in me will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV). It’s comforting to know I’m a work in progress until my last breath. If believers keep walking in close fellowship with God, we’ll keep coming up higher and higher in our trust and obedience. And one amazing day we’ll find ourselves in the splendors of heaven with all the other heroes of faith.

The Key: Keep walking and talking with God and, when all is said and done, He’ll take you Home.

The foundation of every business transaction is trust. I hire a contractor because I trust they will do a quality job, even when the work is below ground or behind a wall, and I cannot see it. We trust a bank to take care of our money. We believe an insurance company will honor our legitimate claims. When we open a package, we take it for granted that the food inside was prepared safely. When trust diminishes, more accountability is required to complete a business transaction, and the price increases.

During my 65 years of life, it seems as if a large quantity of trust has eroded from our culture. I do not know who or what to blame; is it the 24-hour news cycle, social media, or just the diminished character of our people? I would love to hear your views on the topic.

The precious commodity of trust was formerly one of the great benefits of living in the country versus the city; one knew their neighbors, acted in ways that benefited the community, and the consequences for violating trust were instant. In the city, an element of mistrust shadows every interaction because of the lack of familiarity; however, apparently, “familiarity does breed contempt.”

A tidal wave of mistrust has hit rural America, and we are paying the price. In the last twelve years, I have spoken to several people who moved to the country out of urban settings to find peace, community, and the trust that big cities naturally lack, and they have been sorely disappointed. Many people have headed back to the asphalt jungle.

I can draw only one conclusion: rural America is paying a much larger price for this negative megatrend than our cities. Americans are losing their faith and trust in the traditional values of small-town America. Without trust in Bourbon County, one just as well conduct business in the big city where less is expected.

We cannot change this megatrend, but we can change ourselves. How do we re-establish trust? The answers are basic and traditional:

• Be a person of your word.
• When you make a mistake, apologize.
• When a person errs and tries to correct it, forgive.
• If you are offended, go to that person, not the phone or social media.
• Be proactive in looking for ways to build community.
• Expect less from others and more from yourself.
• When you conduct a business transaction, give excellent value.

Economic development depends on the precious commodity of trust. At the heart of Bourbon County REDI is the drive to build trust in all areas of the Bourbon County geography, the business community, and the public sector. Without trust, we will not succeed. We believe that together, we can make a difference.