THE FAITH OF ENOCH

Hebrews 11:5 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.

In the book of Jude we read that Enoch was the seventh from Adam (Jude 14a). The linage of Enoch is cited in the gospel according to Luke, but it is given in detail in Genesis, Chapter 5.

It is interesting to note that Adam was 130 years old when he begat Seth, who was 105 years old when he begat Enos, who was 90 years old when he begat Cainan, who was 70 years old when he begat Mahalaleel, who was 65 years old when he begat Jared, who was 162 years old when he begat Enoch, who was 65 years old when begat Methuselah, who was 187 years old when he begat Lamech, who was 182 years old when he begat Noah, who was 600 years old when the flood came that covered the earth. From these statistics we know that the flood that God sent to destroy all sinful inhabitants of the world, came 1,656 years after the beginning of time. Since Methuselah was 969 years old when he died, he died immediately before the flood, or died in the flood, as did all other inhabitants of the earth. We also know that, because Adam lived to be 930 years old, he was 622 years old when Enoch was born. And Enoch, who walked with God after he begat Methuselah 300 years, was 365 years old when God took him (Gen 5:21-24), which was 669 years before the flood. From these statistics we also know that when Enoch was taken, Adam had been dead for 57 years, but ancestors, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, and Jared were still alive, as were his son, Methuselah, and his grandson, Lamech.

We know very little about Enoch except that he walked with God: and he was not; for God took him (Gen. 5:24). Enoch, like Noah (Gen. 6:9), had a very close, and personal, relationship with God. It was as if they both, in the course of their life, walked side by side with God. The lesson text tells us that by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death. Enoch, like Elijah, did not experience death. Neither left earth by death, but both were changed from a physical body into a form that was suitable to be translated into the heavenly abode, and there to live and abide with God forever. No doubt the fact that neither saw death was due to their faith. Eminent faith is implied in the fact that Enoch walked with God. All faithful, obedient Christians, in a sense, walk with God, in that they walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).

The fact that Enoch walked with God assures us that he pleased God. Before his translation he had this testimony. Everyone that knew Enoch, knew him as a man that, by his actions, pleased God, and this characteristic of his reputation followed him wherever he was seen. People testified about him; they talked about him; they conversed with others about him, and, in their conversation, had nothing but good to say about him. What others said about him was the same as his manner of life indicated. Nothing better could be said about Enoch other than by his unyielding faith in God, he pleased God. The testimony of his faith was evident during his lifetime on earth. And by it, he was a great example and teacher of the will of God, both then, as well as the present age in which we live. What a great example of faith he remains today. All Christians need to be found doing God's will and demonstrating, by our conversation of life, that we, like Enoch, are walking with God. Let this, at all times, be our testimony to the world around us.

Jude, the brother of James, wrote a short, but inspired message to Christians, that is to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ (Vs. 1). In his message, Enoch is specifically noted as the seventh from Adam, and is credited with making this prophesy (See Vss. 14-15). On the Day of Judgment, Jesus Christ is coming (descending from heaven) accompanied by a host of angels, referred to here His saints. The purpose is to execute judgment on all people of the earth; to convict the ungodly, ...(of their) ungodly deeds, and by inference, to reward His obedient followers. Other than the inspired writing of Jude, we have no other record of this prophecy made by Enoch. However, I believe it because Jude wrote it as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. But I also believe it because Enoch knew first hand of the coming of Christ on Judgment Day. Assuredly, God told Enoch of this great event that was planned from the beginning of the world. Why? Because, by faith, Enoch walked with God! From this we know that without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).