The Father of us seeks "fair-dinkum-ness"

So there were folk who walked and talked with God

as well as Abraham, Isaac, and Jake.

And there were folk who balked, and caulked, untrod

those paths he beckoned them to come and take.

And God likes walking with, among, his folk.

Indeed the scriptures say he loves to find

a person who would truly love, no joke,

the people God brings to his life (& mind),

and push through good intentions, on to deeds

(like feeding, clothing, sheltering who’s stuck)

and being quick to listen (this one heeds),

and slow to speak and anger - “gives a fuck!” -

is how some common Aussies would have styled

it. Folk who were “fair dinkum”, unbeguiled.

And somehow they’d be like a little child,

who loves and speaks what’s true, so not just “mild”.

And some like Enoch, walked with God for years.

They trusted and relied on him I’d say.

They lived their lives within his presence; fears,

blood, sweat, and tears, may still have come their way.

It looks like God just loved to hang out with,

and walk among, and share their lot with them,

especially in the guise of kin and kith,

and strangers who would sometimes touch their hem.

And sometimes he would boast about these folk

(he knew their weaknesses, I'd say, quite well).

But he knew what new bodies he would stoke

and wanted them to wake to Life, not “hell”*.

---

*   the Greek word used to describe Jesus’s comments on “hell”, is “Gehenna”, the name for the valley that functioned as the rubbish dump for the city of Jerusalem. It is the image of refuse in a stinking, smoky, snarling, rotting, dump.

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.  Gen. 5:21‭-‬24 NIVUK

One day when the angels came to report to God , Satan, who was the Designated Accuser, came along with them.  …

God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil.”  Job 1:6,8 MSG

One day when the angels came to report to God , Satan also showed up. … Then God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him, is there—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil? He still has a firm grip on his integrity! … ”.   Job 2:1‭-‬3 MSG

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him... 2 Chron. 16:9 NIVUK

“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”.  John 4:23‭-‬24 MSG

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’   Matthew 25:31‭-‬40 NET

There was a man named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea, captain of the Italian Guard stationed there. He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer. One day about three o’clock in the afternoon he had a vision. An angel of God, as real as his next-door neighbor, came in and said, “Cornelius.” Cornelius stared hard, wondering if he was seeing things. Then he said, “What do you want, sir?” The angel said, “Your prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God’s attention. Here’s what you are to do. Send men to Joppa to get Simon, the one everyone calls Peter. He is staying ...”.   Acts 10:1‭-‬6 MSG

He  will reward each one according to his works :  eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness. There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek,  but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous. For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves.  Romans 2:6‭-‬11‭, ‬13‭-‬14 NET