How has your walk been this week? Last week we considered what the Bible means when it describes the lives of men by how they walked. There were some who chose to walk with God and those who chose not to do so. Either way, their choices have been recorded for not only posterity but for eternity. We saw that walking with God means that a person has deliberately chosen a life of fellowship with God and obedience to what he has revealed. Our wisdom, our attitude toward the word of God, and our sanctification are all results of how we choose to walk. It was in Genesis 5:22 we read that “... Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah...” What was it that caused Enoch to walk with God? As we meditate upon the life of Enoch as revealed in the word of God, may God bless us with a desire to truly walk with him.

First and foremost, there had to be a desire in Enoch's life to walk with God. No one will begin to follow hard after God who does not first want to do so. We could stop here and consider at length the unfortunate reality of those who've made false professions. However, suffice it to say that the reason a number of church-going people have no desire to walk with God is because they haven't been made new creatures. Happily, that is not always the case. Was there anything significant that occurred in Enoch's life that would cause him to desire to walk with God? Perhaps it was the birth of his son, Methuselah. We are told that he lived 65 years then begat his son. It was only after Methuselah was born that we are told he walked with God. Oftentimes a major life event, such as the birth of a child, will cause one to reevaluate his priorities and stop living for the here and now and focus on eternity. Perhaps even Methuselah's name, which some think foretold of coming judgment, caused Enoch to walk aright and prepare to meet his God.

Second of all, there had to be a conscious decision to walk with God. A life lived in obedience to God doesn't happen by accident, and we can see that in Enoch's life. Enoch had a desire, and that's good; however, he went beyond desire and deliberately decided to walk with God. Such a decision implies discipline and determination. How greatly this is needed in our day! When we read in Genesis 6 the state of Enoch's day, this is all the more impressive:

Genesis 6:5-6, 11-12 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart... 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

What a decision Enoch made! Can you hear the jeering and taunting now? Can you hear them mocking him: Religious Fanatic!; Holy Joe!; What, you're too good to run with us? The heart of mankind hasn't changed in 4000 years so this holy speculation isn't far fetched. Enoch's decision was final. He was going on with God.

This leads us to our third observation about Enoch's walking with God: there was dedication. Do you remember how long he walked with God? Three hundred years. And the Bible does not tell us that he ever wavered. Instead of giving in to the pressure, he cried against his generation:

Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

What a preacher! Enoch's walk with God was genuine. In his relationship with God he had learned to love what God loved, hate what God hated, and cry against the wickedness of men in that day. That type of boldness can only come from a dedicated walk with God. He had spent time in the presence of God and needed not to be afraid of the face of man.

Before leaving Enoch until next week, let us consider one final aspect that will make all of this the more challenging. Enoch deliberately decided to walk with God and dedicated himself to that walk. He lived holy and righteously in his generation and preached against the ungodly men and deeds of his day. And he did all of this without a Bible. That's right, no copy of the word of God. What's more, there was no church. It appears that Enoch walked alone against the current of ungodliness in his world – and yet walking with God, he was in good company, not to mention the majority. Yes, there is a great challenge for us. Enoch had no Bible and no church. We have both. This past week at the Victory Independent Baptist Church, we had our Jubilee meeting, and we had the privilege to hear from God's choice men. These are men who live holy lives, walk with God, and stand for truth. Let us as a church, and us as Christian people who have the privileges of printed Bibles and Spirit filled churches walk with God also. If Enoch could do it in his day, we who are privileged to belong to the body of Christ surely can as well.

     With love and gratitude,
     Pastor John Nichols