GLEANINGS FROM THE SCRIPTURES Let's Consider Enoch By Keith L. Estes One of my classmates decided to write his thesis on Enoch. We all were amused as there is not much said in the Bible about Enoch. We felt that the young man didn't have much to go on for this is what the scripture says about Enoch: "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." He was able to finish his thesis because he knew that God's word is limitless. In going over some notes in the Christian Life Bible I found there was a great deal of material on this passage. God's word reveals seven things that Enoch did by faith: By faith Enoch walked with God three hundred years. His faith must have been tested and New Folder (3)tried many times. But there is no evidence that he ever lowered the "shield of faith," with which he was able to quench all of Satan's fiery darts. By faith Enoch was "taken away," that is, taken up to heaven-body, soul, and spirit. And his body of flesh was glorified because "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." By faith Enoch "did not see death." Enoch is a type of all born-again believers who will be New Folder (3)alive when Jesus comes back to this world. The dead in Christ will be resurrected, and the living will be caught up with the resurrected saints to meet the Lord in the air. By faith Enoch pleased God. Because Enoch walked with God by faith, all who knew him knew that he pleased God. "He had this testimony, that he pleased God." Enoch had faith that could be seen by all who knew him- by the way he talked, lived, and worked. Faith can be seen in our manner of life. By faith Enoch believed that Almighty God did exist. "For he who comes to God must believe that He is." Where did Enoch get such great faith? He did not have the Bible or any books of the Bible. God must have manifested Himself to Enoch, as He did to others, before the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, became a man. Enoch had an ever-present witness of God. He also had God's creation: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge." Psm 19:1. Creation reveals the glory of the Creator, day and night\. When Enoch looked at God's creation, he saw more than the sun, moon, and stars. He saw more than mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, streams, and seas. He saw more than trees, flowers, the birds of the air, the beast of the fields, the fish of the sea, or man who was created in the image of God. Enoch, by faith, saw the reflection of the Creator in His creation. He sought the Creator God, and found Him, because he sought Him with His whole heart. By faith Enoch was rewarded. He was not rewarded with eternal life, because eternal life is God's gift; it cannot be earned. God rewarded Enoch by allowing him to walk with Himself. By faith Enoch diligently sought God. We do not know how long he sought Him before God invited Enoch to walk with Him; it could have been sixty-five years. The years of seeking were years of growing. As he sought God one day, his growth in grace and knowledge was sufficient, and he walked by faith into the very heavenly presence of God. Reference: 1 Cor. 15:50-55, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, Hebrews 11: 5-6, The Christian Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tenn. Return to Home Page Return to Current Edition Contact us