By Faith: Enoch
What does it mean to walk with God? The thought of such brings up thoughts of Moses whom God spoke to face to face like a man (Ex. 33:11). To walk with God is a priority of the sons of God for it is written in the prophets, “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God'' (Micah 6:8)? The Bible is replete with examples of men and women who walked with God. The book of Genesis explicitly states that two men, Enoch and Noah, walked with God (Gen. 5:22;24; 6:9). Enoch is described twice as one who walked with God; his example should be explored as one seeks to answer this question–what does it mean to walk with God?
How We Walk When We Are Young Matters
Genesis 5:21-22 informs us that Enoch lived sixty-five years and Methuselah was born, He walked with God and lived an additional 300 years. The first thing we learn about the character of this man is that he walked with God. When his son was born, he walked with the Lord, and it is evident that he walked with the Lord thereafter. When we are young, there is much temptation to live as our peers and to engage in the many lifestyles that are commonly accepted among even moral people. Foul language, sloth, or immodesty may not seem like a big deal, but consider this: if you want to walk with the Lord, would that be appropriate? Imagine your name was substituted for Enoch’s in this account. Do you think Enoch was unwilling to appreciate and apply what God said about any of the aforementioned sins? No, though not much is said of Enoch, we can certainly understand what sort of behaviors would block the way for us to walk with God.
How We Walk As We Age Matters
The Bible teaches us that Enoch was the seventh from Adam (cf. Jude 1:14), and that he was the son of Jared who lived 965 years (cf. Gen 5:20).c. Enoch was the father of Methuselah, the oldest recorded living man, who lived 969 years (cf. Gen 5:20). At face value, when you compare Enoch to his father and his son, you might think he missed out on so much. Based on his family's genetics and the longer life spans that existed in the antediluvian world, he had many years to look forward to. It is within the realm of possibility that he might have lived an additional 600 years.
Man is often troubled about his own mortality. There are many faithful Christians that even struggle with the thought of dying. Enoch lived a life that was faithful, his focus was to walk with God. The Hebrew writer recorded,
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God: and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
(Hebrews 11:5-6)
Enoch’s life was a witness to his walk with God; he was so committed to walking with God that God took him. He did not see death but was translated to paradise with Jehovah. He continually sought God and he was rewarded. This is such a glorious thought, that though he did not live as long as his father, or son, or even others, he was one of few men that never tasted physical death but were translated.
How We Walk Before Others Matters
Enoch was a faithful witness with the way that he lived; he, like Abel, is noted as a prophet (Jude 1:14). He also was numbered among the genealogy of the Messiah, Christ Jesus (cf. Luke 3:37). One thing we can learn from Enoch is that regardless of the time in his life, he walked with the Lord. This is the very same attitude of the Apostle Paul, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Also in Romans 14:7-9 he adds,
For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Regardless of Paul’s circumstances he sought to walk with God like Enoch. Even in prison. He also encouraged the Roman brethren to put others' needs before their own.
If we want to walk with the Lord we will live like Enoch, we will walk like Enoch. We will reject the temptation to fit in with the world when we are young. Enoch was Noah’s grandfather and Genesis 6:5 tells us, “And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” I suppose there were wicked men in Enoch’s generation. However, Enoch was still able to walk with God. We live in a generation with evil men, and that will be the case until the Lord returns. We can still walk like Enoch.
We can learn to walk like Enoch when we are old. We must not fear death. If we live to be older than our parents or not quite as long, it is okay. Live for the Lord! If the Lord tarries, death will come to us all. Continue to walk with God as you age. We must also resist the temptation to resign ourselves to the idea that we have nothing to offer for the kingdom. The aged saints play an important role in showing the young ones a faithful example. Your experience walking with Jehovah throughout the different seasons of life gives the young ones hope and encouragement. Enoch still encourages us today; we can walk like Enoch.
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
