November 3 | By Faith Enoch Pleased God
Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”
Enoch, who’s name means “dedicated,” is a mysterious person in the Bible. His entire life is contained in just three verses in Genesis 5:22-24, “22 Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Though we don’t know much about Enoch, we know he walked faithfully with God!
The author of Hebrews makes mention of Enoch in the New Testament as an example of great faith because he pleased God so much that He “took him” up to heaven to be with Him. Many scholars believe Enoch was an example of being raptured. Meaning, his physical body was transformed into a heavenly body and brought directly to heaven just like all Christians are waiting for it to happen to them at Jesus’ second coming (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).
Enoch was someone who most likely lived in a time when serving God was not popular because approximately 100 years after his departure only Noah and his immediate family were found to be righteous. I imagine that while people were worshipping idols based on myth, nature or their ancestry- Enoch was living holy and worshipping God. Likewise, we can safely assume that either Enoch lived in a time of great spiritual decline or at its beginning stages. Either way, I believe Enoch stood out because he had walked faithfully with God when others didn’t.
It is God’s desire that all of Jesus’ disciples stand out from this wicked generation by pleasing God like Enoch.
Enoch serves as a great example for us today of someone who had a faithful relationship to God no matter what the people were doing around him. God doesn’t want us to compromise and become like the world, He wants us to shine like lights and change the world. The ole’ timers used to say, “I don’t want to see how close to hell I can get and still go to heaven, I want to see how close to heaven I can get and still be on this earth.”
Enoch lived in close fellowship with God that Jesus thought it would be better for him to be in heaven than to remain on earth. Jesus made a way for all disciples to have the same kind of intimate relationship with Him by the Holy Spirit (John 14:21). Therefore, by faith walk with God daily and please Him in all you do.
Reflection
Do you want to be in an intimate relationship with God?
Action
- Repent if you have made loving God about religion rather than a relationship.
- Believe that God is on the inside of you– closer than the air you breathe.
- Live your life as God’s friend, just like Enoch.
One Year Reading Plan
Ezekiel 7:1-9:11, Hebrews 5:1-14, Psalm 105:1-15, & Proverbs 26:28. Click here to read online.