Not much is known about Enoch, other than the fact that he lived to be 365 years old and fathered the person in the Bible that lived the longest time, Methuselah. Here is what Genesis records about him:
“Enoch was 65 years old when he fathered Methuselah. And after the birth of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and fathered other sons and daughters. So Enoch’s life lasted 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him.” Genesis 5:21-24
Literally 365 years in 4 verses of scripture. Then we hear about Enoch again in Hebrews 11: “By faith Enoch was taken away so he did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took him away. For prior to his removal he was approved, since he had pleased God. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.” -Hebrews 11:5-6
He pleased God and was taken away to not experience death because of His faith! When I read those words, I couldn’t help but think about the fact that as a child of God, we do not have to experience death either…all thanks be to Jesus for what He did on the cross at Calvary! His faith allowed him to not see death. Our faith allows us the same opportunity spiritually. Yes, we will experience physical death if Jesus doesn’t call us out first, but this is not the end!
If you think about it, Enoch was living in the times before Noah…he was actually Noah’s great grandfather…so we know that the world was wicked during these times. God wasn’t pleased with the condition of the world in those times, because it was so corrupt and evil with sin. So much so that we see God destroy the earth with a flood two generations later.
Enoch simply lived a life pleasing to God and isn’t that what we are all called to do? We are saved from eternal destruction when we choose to live a life that pleases God. How do we do that? Through faith. What did Hebrews 11:6 say right after talking about Enoch? Without faith it is impossible to please God. We must trust that God is Who He says He is and that when we believe in Him, He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Maybe Enoch’s ‘reward’ was not experiencing physical death. But, I can also tell you this… God doesn’t do anything without a purpose and a plan. We may not understand why Enoch was briefly mentioned in the Old Testament, but is then listed in the New Testament as a hero of the faith, but we can trust that God seen something in Him that pleased Him and His faith was one that is worth remembering.
It is easy to focus on those people in scripture that have many books under their name or did something truly significant in our eyes because it is recorded for us to read. This just shows me that it isn’t about what you do that is recorded for others to see, but what you do for the Lord. If we are pleasing God, then you are operating in faith and by faith. It will show…whether anyone else sees it or not, just remember that God does…and that’s all that matters in the end.
Let’s be like Enoch…put on our faith shoes and not just walk with the Lord, but run the race that is set before us. This world is much like the days of Noah and we have a lot of ground to cover before we are taken away.
