19th November 2022

19th November 2022

Pray (ACts)

Read (Hebrews 11v5-6)

Message (Scott Woodburn)

Enoch is a man in the Bible who we know incredibly little about. We could tell hours’ worth of stories about Paul. Elijah and his life could fill a book and even a foreign king like Nebuchadnezzar gets more than a few words...and yet Enoch has a couple of mentions and then that's that. But when we read what the Lord tells us in His Word about Enoch it should cause us to marvel.

We learn a little bit about his family in Genesis 5. His dad was called Jared (v18) and Enoch had brothers and sisters (v19). Like many in those early days of humanity Enoch's dad lived for a very long time, God tells us Jared was 962 before he died (v20). Enoch has his own family too. We know that he had various sons and daughters and one in particular is named Methuselah (v21). 


Yet while it is wonderful to hear about family members and long life, the truly amazing thing about Enoch is that his life could be summed up in just four simple words..."Enoch walked with God" (v24).


Just like Abel, Enoch in was a man of faith. Paul tells us that too in Hebrews 11v5. Enoch loved the Lord, he served the Lord, he praised the Lord. Now we can't fill in the blanks about this man with any certainty. We can't tell any stories about his preaching or if God used him to do amazing things. Yet those four words tell us everything we need to know..."Enoch walked with God". 


Enoch loved the Lord in life and did not taste death for he had pleased God. Amazingly the Lord
tells us in Genesis 5v24 that Enoch "was not", in Hebrews 11v5 we read that he was spared death. This little known man walked with the Lord and then was taken to heaven where he rejoices to this day.


How Enoch finished his life is not the normal situation. The Bible tells us that only Enoch and Elijah finished their time on earth by being taken into heaven by God. The rest of us will one day die and after that comes eternity in heaven or in hell (Hebrews 9v27). So, in the here and now what does this little known man of faith called Enoch say to us?


Firstly, don't worry about your bucket list. It's good to plan and dream but there are much more important things in life than climbing Mount Everest or having ten children. Make the most of today and in everything give God the glory (Colossians 3v17). I like to sum this up with the reformation phrase SOLI DEO GLORIA. To God alone the glory.


Secondly, don't take life for granted. It may be short or long but tomorrow isn't guaranteed for anyone. Instead put first things first (Matthew 6v31-33). Finally, don't fixate on how Enoch entered heaven, as amazing as it was.


I've heard endless debates about Enoch and Elijah and how they finished their time on earth. Instead in response to Enoch ask yourself these four words..."Do I love Jesus?" Think of what your family will say about you in seventy years...will they say..."Dad walked with God"? I hope so. Will the speak at your funeral of your saving faith? I hope so. Will they remember you fondly as someone who knew the surpassing worth of trusting Christ? I hope so.


We will do many things in life, we might be famous, books might be written about all our adventures but the most important issue is whether or not we walk with the Lord. Without faith it is impossible to please God. We simply must believe that not only does He exist but He rewards those who seek Him (v6).


Start walking with Christ and keep walking with Christ - there's nothing more important. 


Pray (acTS)
Sing
WSC
Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
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