~ Enoch ~
Enoch,
who was a “type” of the church, was the first astronaut—he made a non-stop trip
to heaven. One day Jesus Christ will return a second time to take away His
church, His bride to be with Him forever. This typical aspect of Enoch is not
the only interesting aspect of the Biblical account of Enoch. He was a
fascinating Biblical character in other ways. Consider three main aspects of
Enoch’s life.
His FAITH in God ~ Enoch
possessed a consistent PURPOSE in his life and as a result the Hebrew writer
tells us that he pleased God. “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 rewards those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:5-6). He
was determined to obey God, regardless of cost, and as a result he achieved his
life purpose. And because of his faith and obedience he experienced a TRANSFORMATION
of his life.
His WALK with God ~ Enoch
understood the PATH in which he should go and he walked with God. A path
implies a beginning and an end. “Enoch walked
steadily with God. And then one day he was simply gone: God took him” (Genesis
5:24). The fact that Enoch walked steadily with God implies certain things. First,
it implies a harmony or agreement
with God. Second, increasing intimacy
occurs the longer you walk together with another. Third, there was a consistency which implies he neither ran
ahead of God nor lagged behind. Finally a walk with God provides safety in the form of both shelter and
protection. Enoch experienced a TRANSLATION as God took him directly to
heaven.
His TESTIMONY for God ~ Enoch
was a PROPHET who gave an amazing prediction. “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). Enoch was the first
prophet and he prophesied about the Lord’s coming. His prophecy was one of
coming CONDEMNATION for those sinners who have not accepted Jesus Christ as
their personal Savior.
CONTEMPLATE:
How is your current walk with God?
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
