Lessons from the Life of Enoch

“And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” –Genesis 5:24

This is the only note (outside of genealogies) that we have from the life of Enoch.  What could we possibly learn from the life of Enoch?

Well, in my study of Hebrews 11 (where he is mentioned) I was wondering why he was included. It mentioned that by faith Enoch was taken up to heaven.  That sounded a little puzzling to me.  Read it for yourself:

“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.”

Did that mean he had faith that God was going to take him to heaven? How am I supposed to have faith in such an improbable possibility?  I believe he didn’t know he was going to be taken up, because the passage in Genesis makes it sound like it was sudden and unexpected.  So he believed that he would never die, even though he had no promise to back it up? That would be like me believing I would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit. Completely ridiculous!  Is that what this example of Enoch is teaching us?  As I wrestled with these questions, the Lord, in His own way and timing, opened my eyes to what the verse in Hebrews was really saying.

Let’s follow the simple thought process of Hebrews 11:5.  Why was Enoch taken?  Because “he had this testimony.”  What was his testimony? “That he pleased God.” How did he please God? That one’s a stumper, until you look down, for the very next verse says, “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.”  So there you have it. It all started with faith.  Faith was the starting point, the catalyst if you will.

But now, what does this mean for us today?  Just like Enoch we want to please God.  We want to glorify Him.  It is our life’s goal to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).  But how do we do this?  As Hebrews 11:6 says, we need faith to please Him.  Yet, where can we find this faith, you ask.  Well, how did Enoch grow in faith?  The passage in Genesis makes mention of his relationship with God; it said he walked with God.  That is our answer!

In order to grow stronger in our faith, we must get to know the King of the universe. We must spend time with Him. We must converse with Him. We must get to know His heart. And we must walk with Him.

This is how we gain faith.  And by our faith, we can move mountains, accomplishing the unaccomplishable.  But it all starts with the knowledge of God. Will you invite Him into your life today and dine with Him?  As Revelations 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”  Will you spend time pouring into the Word and seeking out His heart? Will you “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), that you might draw close to the heart of God? Will you walk with God, like Enoch?