Text: Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11; Acts 1:9

Prop: a poster of Moses or picture of a man of God
Summary: We have several role models for men of God, and Jesus is the greatest example.

The Bible has many stories of great men. Can you name some of them? Adam, Moses, David, and Solomon. Most of them lived a long life and then died. Did you know the Bible tells of two men who walked with God and went directly to heaven? Do you know who they are?

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. – Genesis 5:24

Enoch was a man of God because we are told he “walked with God.” That means he spent time with God every day. One day God must have decided it was time for Enoch to be with him. Enoch did not die. God took him directly from earth to heaven.

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. – 2 Kings 2:11

Another man of God was the prophet Elijah. He had a steady relationship with God and when it was time for him to leave the earth, God did a wonderful thing. He sent the heavenly taxi to pick him up! There was a rush and roar of a mighty whirlwind as God sent a chariot of fire to give him a ride to heaven.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. – Acts 1:9

Jesus was taken to heaven, but he was not just a man of God, he was the Son of God. Unlike the others, Jesus suffered a terrible death on the cross for our sins, was buried, and then he rose from the dead three days later! After forty days of showing that he had risen, he rose on the clouds of heaven to be with God the Father.

Will you be a man or woman of God? The way you choose to live each day of your life is up to you. If you choose to spend time with God each day, by praying and reading the Bible, then you will have a closer relationship with God.

©1997 by Jim Kerlin. All rights reserved.