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 – He walked with God

Methuselah is recorded as the oldest human to live when he died at the age of 969 years. While Methuselah is remembered for his age, his father is remembered for his walk. Enoch was seven generations removed from Adam. Adam was 622 years of age when Enoch was born to Jared. At the age of sixty-five, Methuselah was born to Enoch. Methuselah likely died the year of the flood when Noah and his family were saved in the Ark. This suggests that Methuselah was among the wicked in the days of his grandson, Noah. If there was a stark contrast in the lives of two people, Enoch and his son, Methuselah, represent the best of the best and the worst of the worst.

Enoch is mentioned only in Genesis during the days before the flood, in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles, in Luke’s account of the genealogy of Jesus, in the hall of faith in Hebrews, and finally, by Jude. Moses briefly mentions Enoch as a man who walked with God and was not, for God took him. The scriptures are silent about Enoch until the Hebrew writer describes him as a man who was taken up by God so that he would not see death. What an amazing story that nothing is known! Again, the Hebrew writer explains that Enoch walked in a way that pleased God. However, Enoch served the Lord; it gained him a place in the Bible as a man who was not, for God took him.

Walking with God is only mentioned by one other person. Noah walked with God. His faith was so great that God instructed him on what to do to save his family. The days of Enoch and Noah were times that have yet to repeat themselves. In the days of Enoch and Noah, the intent and thoughts of the world were only wicked continually. When God looked upon the world, it grieved Him for the wickedness of the human heart. As a flicker of light in a very dark world, Enoch shone his light to a corrupt world that would soon be destroyed. His life pleased God when it was difficult to serve the Lord. The faith of Enoch was described as a faith that believed that God was real and His promises were true. It is impossible to please God without faith. Enoch pleased God in his very dark world because of his faith. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord because of his faith.

We would want to be in a place with God that He would take us like Enoch. A teacher asked a little girl to tell the story of Enoch. She said, “God and Enoch were walking together one day, and God said, ‘Enoch, would you like to come home with me?’ Enoch said, ‘Yes,’ so he did. Our faith can be strong in a world filled with wickedness because Enoch walked with God. Enoch believed in the fierce judgment of God, and faith is measured by knowing the righteous judgment of the Lord against unrighteousness. God may not take us like He did Enoch, but He will bring us home one day. Walk with God each day, and that day will come.

Enoch can be an example of a heart that loves the Lord and seeks to serve Him in every way, even when the world is filled with immorality and hatred. Faith is evident in a walk of life. People knew where Enoch stood and what he believed was right and wrong. The world did not decide how Enoch would live. Faith is an active part of life that defines the righteous character of the heart. God saw the life of Enoch as one that so pleased Him; Enoch was translated to eternal life without death. My life can live faithfully in a challenging world so that God can see my life as pleasing to Him. My goal today: please God!