Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them…
One of the most amazing aspects of the Bible is the amount of detail it contains about the past. Of course, whether or not you believe this information depends on your view of the Bible.
As I have mentioned before, my personal view is that God exists. God created everything there is, and if God wanted to get a book published He could. If he did, it would be exactly the way He wanted to it be.
As far as I know, every other method of understanding the Bible requires that someone sit in the Seat of Judgment. They then have to determine: (A) what parts of the Bible are relevant, and (B) what the relevant stuff means.
So the question of how to approach the Bible depends on who you want to trust with your soul. Is the book what it seems to be, that is a book of God’s Word so people can know God. (See 2 Timothy 3: 16) Or, is it what Sam or Sally says about the book that you believe?
What it says about Enoch is:
“Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5: 22b-23)
Taking the book at face value, Enoch is the seventh from Adam. (His lineage is in the first part of Genesis 5.) When Jude says Enoch was a prophet, I find that very easy to believe. Enoch is one of two men who were taken directly up to heaven without having to suffer the indignity of dying. (For those of you who find this hard to believe, I suggest it is not as hard to believe as believing that our DNA was formed by accident!)
The Bible also tells us that Enoch “walked faithfully with God” for 300 years. God probably told him a few things while they walked together. So it is not surprising to me that he might have had some insight into God’s plans for the future.
Application: Strive to ”walk faithfully with God.”
Food for Thought: What do you think it means to ”walk faithfully with God?”
A walk is ongoing…not all at once, so this is obviously more than the moment of salvation, which we all need (Acts 4:12). There may be a driving rain or even a blizzard, folks telling us that we are going the wrong direction, and we might not be able to see very far up the path. But walking faithfully means trusting that God will reward us for staying on the path regardless of trials and tribulations (1 Corinthians 15:51-58). I regret that I’m seeing a lot of friends abandon this path for worldly emptiness. The patriarchs of old stayed the course for hundreds of years (none more notable than Enoch). Can we hold on for a few decades and show forth Christ to the next generation? The example that Enoch set is still honorable and of note today.
Good comments JEC. A faithful walk is a walk, not a faithful talk. It is not a faithful sprint that is short lived. I think it means to trust God every day in every way. Proverbs 3: 5 – 6.
Right JEC, our walk may be shaky to start but time in-with God will increase our love and commitment for Him. We should see stability in faith not falling away. Col. 1:19; John 1:16.
Thank you, brothers!
Great words and wonderful verses!
As for friends that wander I am reminded of James 5: 19-20,
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Perhaps there will be opportunities for this kind of work.
A soldier is only as good as his orders. The burden then falls on his courage to follow those orders. His ultimate challenge is to win in battle.
How much more our orders, our burden , and our victory in battle?
Is it possible today that many ‘good’ Christians know the Word, but do not know the walk?
Heaven is our reward for fighting the good fight and winning. Our orders here on earth are to engage the enemy on his ground, take and set the captives free, heal the broken hearted and love all the while.
Thank you anonymous for putting things in a better perspective for me.