Sermon Central
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Enoch 'was Not' Because He 'was Not.'
Contributed by Darin Gary on Aug 10, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: Enoch refused to be defined by his world and his culture.
Enoch ‘Was Not’ because He ‘Was Not’
“Jared lived 162 years, and begot Enoch. [19] After he begot Enoch, Jared lived 800 years, and had sons and daughters. [20] So, all the days of Jared were 962 years; and he died. [21] Enoch lived 65 years, and begot Methuselah. [22] After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years, and had sons and daughters. [23] So, all the days of Enoch were 365 years. [24] And, Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”
(C.S. Lewis) – “Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased!”
I. Enoch ‘was not’ conformed to his culture and his world.
(Heb. 11:5-6) – “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him;’ for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. [6] But, without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
First, we can conclude that Enoch pleased the Lord, AND this certainly indicated a direct correlation between Enoch’s non-conformity to his world and culture, and pleasing God. We read in James 4:4 – “…Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
I believe Enoch personified here on earth God’s definition of true Biblical faith. When it comes to Biblical faith and its definition, Hebrews 11:6 is the gold standard verse. And, it is fair to conclude that the Lord used Enoch’s earthly example as the template for true children of God to live by.
1) Biblical faith believes what God says. (Heb. 11:6) – “…He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” When the Lord tells all His children (Rom. 12:1) – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service;” then, by true, Biblical faith, the true child of God must believe God expects him/her to do this!
In 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 – when God inspired Paul to pray that the Thessalonian believers would experience God’s provision of entire sanctification – and concluded his prayer with a sovereign promise from God, “faithful, who also will do it;” the Christian is to believe that God wills all Christians to be entirely sanctified; and, that our faithful God will entirely sanctify the believer!
2) True, Biblical faith obeys what God requires. (Heb. 11:6) – “…He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The second element of true, Biblical faith requires the act of the will. If you want to be a true Christian, a true child of God, then you must do what God requires! Total, genuine, Biblical, obedience unto the heavenly Father is not an option; it is a requirement! (Prov. 8:17) – “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.” (Jer. 29:13) – “…you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” The Christian must – by faith –turn over to the Holy Spirit’s full control every aspect of his/her life! (Eph. 5:18) – “…do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but, be filled with the Spirit…”
(*This is VERY important) – The truly born-again child of God must not proceed to this third element involved in Biblical faith until he/she is certain he/she has successfully completed the first two elements in their walk and relationship with Jesus Christ! Successful completion is measured by a clear conscience and an unconditionally surrendered attitude of heart and mind toward God!
3) True, Biblical faith trusts in and rests upon what God promises. (Heb. 11:6) – “…He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” First, one “trusts in” what God has promised because God’s Word is immutable (un-changing) and eternal. (Psalms 119:89) – “Forever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in heaven.” (Matt. 24:35) – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will by no means pass away.” Also, Hebrews 11:1 tells us that Biblical faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The words “substance” (hupo’stasis) and “evidence” (eleg’chos) are better translated “confidence” and “certainty” respectively. Faith brings confident certainty! A person has not exercised biblical faith if he is not able with complete confidence to trust God to do what He promised!
