"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).

"Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:21-24).

IDEA: We must believe that God exists.

PURPOSE: To help listeners appreciate the simplicity yet the enormity of faith.

Is there a difference between someone with a simple faith and someone with a simplistic faith? What would that difference be?

The writer to the Hebrews reduced faith to two simple but indispensable characteristics (Hebrews 11:6). One characteristic is that they who come to God must believe that He exists.

What do you think that means? Consider three possibilities:

Is this merely a keen insight into the obvious? Is it even possible to come to God unless you believe that He exists?

According to a Gallup poll, almost 90% of Americans say they believe in God or a higher power. Have they all met this first characteristic of faith?

Is "believing that God is" more than a reverence or awe at the mysterious forces or Force that lies behind the creation? Someone must have made all this.

Is this simply an assertion that you can't be both a believer and an atheist?

What do you make of the word must?

Is it a moral obligation, something we must make ourselves do?

Is it a logical necessity? For instance, we must come to this conclusion if we are honest.

It is not hard to believe in God. E.g., you must work at not believing. It is a universal belief.

Refusal to acknowledge the existence of God is both immoral and illogical.