By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation, he had this testimony, that he pleased God. –Hebrews 11:5
We live in a day of apostasy full of men-pleasers and ever-leavening compromise. Most men today say they love God but in their works they deny Him. All over America, men boldly claim, “Lord, Lord”, but will be shocked to hear Jesus will say to the majority of professors, “I NEVER knew you; depart from me.” Most think they are walking with God, but instead they walk with the world, and don’t even know it. Friendship with the world has always been enmity toward God. Walking with God means we walk against the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, and it means marching to a different voice. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me.” Today, we have 98% of America claiming they are saved, and that they walk with God. God’s word says otherwise, so we must “be not deceived”. We must examine ourselves whether we be in the faith, and if we are, then whether we are truly walking with the true and living God of the Bible.
In this study, the first thing that hit me is that it was God himself in His Word that said “Enoch walked with God” (Genesis 5:24). Today, “this people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8). Here, Enoch wasn’t the one trying to convince everyone he was spiritual or trying to prove he has the touch of God on his ministry.
Enoch walked with God, the Bible says, and the Bible says that he pleased God. The Bible offers us a few clues about what that entailed. The first clue is looking at another man in the Bible ---Noah, too, walked with God. (Gen 6:9). Noah was a preacher of righteousness, and got God’s attention when every thought of man was only evil continually. The one walking with God is the one crying in the wilderness, saying Repent! not the one sitting in a forest mediating. The one who walks with God is studying the scriptures, AND being a doer of the Word, not a hearer only. One current heresy attacking Christianity today is the contemplative movement of men like Richard Foster and Ken Blanchard. It’s methods and principals come from Roman Catholic monasticism. On first glance, one might think of Enoch walking with God in that light. I am sure a “Monk-ly” image of Enoch, of him hidden from the world in a dark monastery, chanting all day long, might be the more likely guess as to what he was like. However, the Bible gives us a good idea as to what it was about Enoch that “pleased God.” The Bible says in Jude 14-15, And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, 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. Enoch was a prophet, Enoch preached a message that wasn’t popular, Enoch preached judgment, Enoch apparently didn’t compromise, and Enoch didn’t make excuses. He was a Preacher that went to the places where people weren’t excited when he showed up. He could walk with God despite the obstacles – only 7 generations from Adam the first sinner, only 6 generations from Cain the murderer, and without a perfect Bible to preach out of.
Speaking of the Bible, I find it interesting that God says Enoch was translated that he did not see death. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not for God took him. (Gen 5:22) By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him (Heb 11:5). I don’t know exactly how God did it, but I know that God translated him. Webster’s 1828 says that means several things; to bear or carry, to remove or convey to heaven, to interpret, to render into another language. Was Enoch raptured? Did he go up in a chariot? Whatever way God took him, it was God. Here we have an “inspired translation.” Modern scholars believe that the original long-gone manuscripts of the Bible were inspired, but then there is no perfect Bible today. I think that if God is smart enough to overcome our sinful nature in penning his originals, he is smart enough to do the same in preserving it. I believe that the King James Bible is inspired translation! As Evangelist Sam Gipp said, “Inspiration without preservation is a divine waste of time!”
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Amos 3:3 asks, can two walk together, except they be agreed? Enoch must have agreed with God about sin, righteousness, and judgment. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil... (Proverbs 8:13) God hates sin, is angry with the wicked every day, and the soul that sinneth it shall die. God however is long-suffering so we don’t get what we deserve in our day to day living. Still, every sin must be punished, and without Christ’s atonement, Hell is the only other option. Enoch must have also had compassion and likely showed those he warned the way of escape. God is not willing that any should perish. God wants everyone saved, not just those that are Independent Fundamental Baptists! Jonah had revival, but Jonah did not walk with God. Noah walked with God but only could get only his family to come to his “Church in the Ark”. Walking with God seems to mean leaving the results to God—whatever they are. Enoch didn’t change his message to keep his ministry going longer. Today’s Fundamentalists would have charged Enoch for being too heavenly minded. Compromise, Enoch, and God will let you preach here longer! Enoch didn’t compromise and God took him---we must care more about whether we are accepted by God than if anyone else ‘can take us’. Enoch wasn’t hateful either, but I’m sure he was accused of being a bigot, intolerant, judgmental, and a legalist. The only way to love people in a way that pleases God is to love them enough to tell them the truth. As Bro. Farley said to contend for the faith, preach against every kind of sin, and still, “stay sweet” in your spirit.
To be an Enoch today means to live by faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God. The Bible says that faith without works is dead, and Jesus asks, “and Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46) We talk in our circles about stepping out in faith, living by faith, giving by faith. However, we should also make sure that we are walking by faith, not just running our mouth! Not comparing ourselves by ourselves or by the brethren, caring more about what God thinks than what the Brethren that are AGAINST us ---as well as the Brethren that are FOR us--- think, or by church growth pragmatism, or by offending the goats. Paul told Timothy to do the work of an evangelist, and the Bible says to Go, ye into all the world and preach the Gospel. Today we have our evangelists so tied up in busy work and gathering support and finding meetings that they don’t have time to get to a street corner. I want my Church evangelist soulwinning but I also need him at the office at 5 o’clock to print out my GLA on lessons about Enoch!!!! Enoch warned of God’s coming judgment. His listeners did not come to him. Enoch would have gone into the highways, and byways, and compelled them to come in. He would have told them they must REPENT!
In summary, the majority will never walk with God. Narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14) It is the minority that are after God’s own heart –and not their own. God had an Enoch near the beginning of his creation---He certainly earnestly longs for one at the end. The two questions this study begs is: 1) Is there not a cause? 2) Is there anyone out there willing to be an Enoch? We must count the cost. There is a high price to being an Enoch---it may mean walking alone. It may mean misunderstanding. It may mean a tougher battle against the flesh. The lesson that Enoch seems to teach us is that it was well worth it---not only for all eternity, but when Enoch walked with God during his lifetime. There is a cause to be an Enoch. |
