Enoch is mentioned only a few times in the Bible. We first hear about him in Genesis 5:21-24 (NLT) where it says: “Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.”
And then in Hebrews 11:5 (NLT) he is mentioned again, and it is good to note what is said about him: “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—'he disappeared, because God took him.' For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.”
Enoch’s testimony
We don’t read much about this man of faith, just a few verses, but because of the testimony Enoch had, many believers know his name. He “walked in close fellowship with God” and “he pleased God”. Could there be a better testimony? Could there be a higher mission in life? Could anything be more important in this life?
We can also see from Genesis 5, that Enoch lived in the days shortly before Noah. It’s written about that time that “when the Lord saw how wicked everyone on earth was and how evil their thoughts were all the time, he was sorry that he had ever made them and put them on the earth. He was so filled with regret.” Genesis 6:5-6 (GNT).
Just think how much it must have meant to God, that when He looked at the earth and His creation and saw how far it had fallen and how evil it had become, He still saw one man who walked with Him; who wanted to please Him. This was the same testimony that Enoch’s great-grandson Noah had.
What an amazing example we have in Enoch. He lived a life of faith. It was a way of life for him; he walked with God. He allowed God to show him the right way, that’s how he was pleasing to God. And because of his faith, God took Enoch to be with Him.
We can walk with God
Today, God also looks down at the earth and sees a world full of people who “love pleasure instead of loving God”, as we read in 2 Timothy 3:4 (CEB). Just think how much it will please Him when He sees people who are faithful to Him, who walk with Him! Those who are “blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these people you shine like stars in the world.” Philippians 2:15 (CEB).
In the middle of this evil world, we can have the testimony that we walk with God and that we please God. We do this by giving up our own will with its sinful lusts and desires because we love God and want to serve Him and be obedient to His will. We can be of those who are described in Colossians 3:1 who seek the things that are above and reject everything that comes from this world.
Our goal should be to have the same testimony that Enoch had. Not because we want to be known for something, but so that we can honour God with our lives. So that everyone who knows us, knows this about us: that we walk with God and live to please Him.
How to walk with God
What does it mean to walk with God in everyday life? It means that we are always close to Him. We get to know Him by reading His Word. He is the One we go to for all instruction, comfort, and strength. “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18:2 (NLT).
We seek His will and do His will. “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Luke 11:2. We are obedient to all that He commands. We don’t just do a few outward things. We make an effort to find out how we can best serve Him, how we can please Him better.
Then at the end of our time on earth, God will take us to be with Him. If we are faithful in walking with God all of our days, then one day we will walk right into eternity, to be with Him forever.