Walk Like A Man Series

(Pretended to read from a Children’s Book from a stool onstage – this was for our “Children’s Stories” Series)

You know your mommy and daddy love you very much and they try to teach you how to grow up to be a young man they can be proud of. Well, back in the Old Testament there was a daddy who tried to do that with his kids. His name was Enoch, and he was the father Methuselah (the oldest man who ever lived) and the great-grandfather of Noah. Noah was such a righteous man that God picked him to build a giant boat called the “Ark” that carried all kinds of animals.

Methuselah and Noah grew up to be such great men, partly because Enoch was a great man. We’re told that the one thing Enoch liked to do – above everything else - was to walk with God. In fact, Enoch walked with God so much that one day God told him “It’s too far to go back; why don’t you just come on home with me.” And so, Enoch just went up to heaven with God … and he never died.

Our text today is from Genesis 5:21-24 “When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”

PRAYER

Someone once noted that Genesis chapter 5 is often called the Graveyard Chapter of Scripture. It tells us Adam lived 930 years and had several sons and daughters… and then he died. Then Seth lived 912 years and had sons and daughters… then he died. Enosh lived 905 years and had several children… and then he died. And on and on. It didn’t matter how long they lived - eventually they died. Eight men are listed here, and they all lived a long time, had kids… and they died. (vss. 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 27, and 31)

This is the Graveyard Chapter of Genesis. Everybody died (pause) well, they all died except one man. (pause) Enoch… didn’t die. Hebrews 11:5 “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.”

You know, down through the ages, people have sought the “fountain of youth,” a way to live forever… or at least a lot longer than they do now.

ILLUS: I just recently heard about a new fad amongst the rich and famous. It’s called “Parabiosis” and essentially, older (but really RICH) folk will pay upwards of $8000 to have the plasma from of teenagers inserted into their blood system. The purpose? To revitalize aging body parts and add years to their lives. One company called “Ambrosia” had 80 people lined up for this procedure. And in Europe I’m told that they’ll even replace your entire blood supply… for a price. They belief this will guarantee a longer and healthier life, but it’s all bogus. It doesn’t work. But these folks had the money to take a chance, and because they had the money… and they figure it’s worth a try. (https://mashable.com/2017/06/01/parabiosis-blood-transfusions-startup-silicon-valley/#es3VMZ4MFOqb)

But ENOCH didn’t have to do anything like that. He was blessed with eternal life… and it didn’t cost him a red cent. Well... it did cost Enoch something. I mean, nothings free! But what did Enoch have to pay to live forever? Well, he walked with God: Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah (Genesis 5:22) … Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” Genesis 5:24

Notice, God mentioned Enoch walking with Him TWICE!!!! And Enoch’s desire to walk with God so impressed God that Enoch got to live forever!!!!

But, was THAT it? Do you mean to say that all Enoch had to do was walk with God? I mean, that doesn’t sound all that impressive. It wasn’t as if Enoch was being praised for the nations he built, or the giants he felled, or the city walls he destroyed. Enoch just walked with God. What’s so remarkable about that?

Well, it helps to realize that God has always put a high premium on walking with Him. When God chose Noah to build the Ark, we’re told in Genesis 6:9 “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” And in Genesis 17:1 we read that “the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.’” In I Kings 9:4-5 tells us of when God told Solomon: "And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever." And in Malachi 2:6-7 we’re told that “(Levi) walked with (God) in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.”