East of Eden

After the name of our church, Enoch Hills ...
the city of Enoch was established East of Eden.
Steve wrote a great post on the website
www.enochhillschurch.org

He says it far better than I, so I quote -

Genesis 4:16-17 Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain’s wife conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

"Enoch was the first city mentioned in the Bible - outside and to the East of Eden.

Enoch Hills then, is a name with great significance for our church and for our daily lives. God intended for us to live in Eden - free from sin and in a walking, talking relationship with Himself. We were meant to have fulfilling work and live in perfect relationship with each other. It is imperative we remember: this is how we were intended to live…. how we could be living… how we were supposed to stay. But…. we don’t.

Each time our name comes up in conversation or when we see the logo or when we are reaching out to others with the Gospel, let it be a reminder that we live EAST of Eden…. in a fallen, sin-stained world that IS NOT our home. This world…. and all it has to offer is not what our souls truly want or need, even though many things satisfy us in an incomplete way. These satisfying, incomplete things can be manipulated to the point that we begin to believe we can control our lives and arrange a mostly happy life - it’s the Almost Eden… Notquite Eden… but it is still East of Eden… Enoch.

Finally, let Enoch Hills be a continuing reminder of what Jesus did on the cross. He made all things new. Via the resurrection, He conquered death and spiritual separation. The despair of sin and death has been replaced with faith… with love… with hope… that God dwells with us thru the Spirit. This is the new way of the Spirit, but it is still not Eden. Not yet. So, while we wait for the New Heaven and New Earth - Eden restored - we’ll seek to build faith, live hope and grow love."