Faith: Walking With the LORD

The Faith of Enoch​

Enoch is an interesting figure in the Bible because he is only mentioned in three passages of Scripture, including the “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11.
    “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” (Hebrews 11:5).
    Enoch was taken up to God before he died because he pleased God.  Why was he taken up by God…weren’t there other people in history who have pleased God?  Why weren’t they taken up?  Perhaps most importantly, “how did Enoch please God?”
    The next verse gives us some insight, “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.”
    Apparently, Enoch 1) came to God, 2) Believed that God exists, 3) Diligently sought God, knowing there is a reward.

This is what Genesis has to say about him: “Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah.  After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years and had sons and daughters.  So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.  And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:21-24).
    Of all these people in the genealogy from Adam to Noah, Enoch is the only one who is described as walking with God.  He is also the only one who did not die.  Between Enoch and Noah, apparently men just got more and more wicked.  Read Genesis 6:5-9.  Noah also walked with God.  God wanted to save Enoch before the flood, knowing that He would have to start over with Noah.

The point: Faith is Walking With The LORD.  This is what pleases God.  It is about a relationship, not what we can do for Him.  Like Hebrews points out, it takes diligence on our part, knowing that everything is from the LORD.

The reward is a heavenly city which God is preparing for those who walk with Him (Heb. 11:16).
What does it mean to “walk with God” knowing our heavenly reward?
Jude gives a strong exhortation and mentions Enoch to make his point.  Jude is warning of false believers who claim to have faith but they are actually denying the Lord Jesus Christ—not submitting to His life.  As the example with Enoch goes, they were not actually walking with God.  “Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him’ “ (Jude 14-15).

Walking with the Lord is not denying Him—let Him have full access and dominion over my whole life.  FAITH IS LETTING THE LORD HAVE FULL ACCESS AND DOMINION IN MY LIFE.
    It is actually literally sharing in Christ’s life.  This is not just a metaphor or poetic language: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).  He gave Himself for me—that is a present sharing of His life, then eternally.  Let us not seek to please ourselves, but the Lord in everything.
***Am I doing that in my:
Success and Suffering:  1 Peter 5:5-7; Psalm 55:22
Work: Colossians 3:23-24
Family/Relationships:  1 Cor. 13:4-7
Ministry: 2 Cor. 3:17—4:2

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