A Life Well Lived

18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. 19 And after he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Altogether, Jared lived 962 years, and then he died. 21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Genesis 5:18-24

Enoch walked with God

Two separate times the writer tells us that Enoch walked with God. The double emphasis is important in ancient written text. The second mention acts much like our modern underlining or italics to add further emphasis to the point.

Enoch had such an incredible relationship with God that he never died. Who taught Enoch to have such a close relationship with God? Doing some simple math allows us to see who was still living when Enoch lived. One of the biggest influences on Enoch had to have been Adam. Adam would have been 622 years old when Enoch was born and would have lived during most of Enoch’s lifetime.

Enoch would have witnessed the death of Adam. Enoch was likely to have helped bury Adam and perform the funeral rituals. No other man of God had yet died a natural death. Abel was murdered and was taken in an unnatural manner. Death was something that the people of God may not have fully grasped until Adam died.

Think about that for just a moment. Adam would have no doubt talked about walking with God in the Garden of Eden. He would have shared the experience of knowing God in a deep and rich personal manner. Enoch would have also been influenced by others who had lived for God for centuries.

What does it mean to walk with God?

1. There must be a relationship

It is absolutely impossible to walk with God without first knowing God. There are people sitting in here this morning that know about God but have never started a relationship with God. The difference between the two is life and death. Knowing and walking with God allows the believer to discover life that never ends. Knowing about God only makes us responsible for our spiritual condition. Knowing about God and never starting a relationship with Him is like knowing there is oxygen and refusing to breathe. It makes no sense.

2. Living in God’s promises

Walking with God means that believers strive to live in the depth of His promises. Think about all of the many different promises that God has given to us, we get to live in the light of those promises every day.

3. Develop fellowship with God

Enoch desired to walk so close with God that there was no possible way to be closer except to be in heaven. Such an incredibly close life with God is often difficult for us to imagine. The truth is that we have been offered the same closeness with God but often we do not take the time to develop the relationship. Developing fellowship with God takes time and effort on our part.

a.) Prayer

b.) Bible Study

c.) Worship – Personal and corporate

4. Live a holy life

Walking with God means that we desire to become more like Him. The pursuit of holiness is simply the daily quest to become more like Jesus. Each new day is a new opportunity to live for Christ and become more like Him. Our opportunities to grow closer to God come in unexpected ways.

We grow closer to God through trials and hardships. Daily we move closer to God through the annoyances and distractions that would pull us away from Him. Holiness develops within our lives over time. God does give us the Holy Spirit in a moment but living the pursuit of holiness lasts a lifetime.

Enoch proclaimed righteousness

The name Enoch comes from the Hebrew word chanowk, which means dedicated. Dedicated describes the manner Enoch was raised and the manner he lived. Enoch was not just a man who walked with God; he proclaimed the truth and righteousness of God. Enoch was a preacher of righteousness. He proclaimed the ways of right living before God and was a living example of what it meant to follow God. Enoch lived an incredible life and proclaimed the power of an incredible God.

Who did Enoch preach to?

Remember that Enoch walked with God and it was so vital to mention twice. Enoch was not the norm in his society. No matter how you slice it Enoch was preaching to family. Remember there were two main branches of the family of Adam. The line of Seth, which Enoch belonged and there was the line of Cain. Enoch was proclaiming the truth of God to the those in the line of Seth who had gone astray and to the line of Cain who were already astray. No matter how you view this Enoch was preaching to a tough crowd.