TALK THE TALK AND WALK THE WALK (GENESIS 5:20-23)
A little Sunday school girl (was asked to describe Enoch) said this about Enoch: “Enoch was a man who learned to walk with God, and they used to take long walks together. One day they walked so far that God said, 'Look, Enoch, it's too far for you to go back; just come on home with me.' So he walked on home with God.” http://pbc.org/dp/stedman/hebrews1/0094.html
I asked my good friend Rev. Michael Wu on an internet chat: “I am working on Enoch, do you have anything to say about him to my congregation?” After an awkward pause, these words appeared on my monitor: “Enoch is one of the two youngest board members of our church. Born in LACAC (church). 26 years-old. Enoch means steady - word root related to Amen in Hebrew. Maybe his parents want him to be steady in following Christ. I pray for that definitely.”
Of all the fifteen identified heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11, Enoch’s story in Genesis is the shortest text, with the brightest hope, and the least mentioned today. For example, when was the last time you hear a message about Enoch from the pulpit?
The phrase “walked with God” refers to the abundant life and blessed fellowship with God, the greatest spiritual experience of our lives. The only other person to do so was Noah (Gen 6:9), Enoch’s great grandson born 69 years 69 after Enoch was taken up. The theological implication of Enoch’s transportation to heaven is monumental: Adam and Eve were driven from the garden, the tree of life was guarded, consequently the repeated pronouncement and epitaph in Genesis 5 “and he died” was the fate of all men. Man’s first real physical death was recorded in the same chapter. Beginning from Adam, through six generations before (5:5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20) and two after Enoch’s era (5:27, 30), everyone except Enoch died. Why? Because he walked with God. Not only did he not die, he had no negative review, brightened with a lengthy, steady and daily relationship with God. The dread and destiny of death was broken. Living in sin means death but walking with God means life; it is a possible, positive and precious experience.
What characterizes a man who is so close to God? Is it attainable, sustainable, and practical? What profits those who spend substantial quality time with God?
Be Partners in a World of Change
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. (Gen 5:20-22)
Beginning from September last year (2012) my wife and I have been taking a walk every night after dinner. At first it was unplanned; it was a suggestion that became a habit. Now we could not wash the dishes and walk the round soon enough, circling the island where we live. Mostly, we hold hands and we pray – about our relationship with God, with each other, and with others, including family, friends, church and coworkers. The walk lasts about 40 minutes.
If I were by myself, one fourth of the trail is dedicated to my relationship with God, one fourth to family and the other fourth to unsaved family members, and the last to friends, church and coworkers. I often call it my prayer walk, because I would often lift up my hands in prayer as I also pray for the weekend service, including the sermon and the people I address.
The bonuses are numerous. The first is that I have been more prayerful and godly. Second, we are not chained to the TV, the Internet or the couch. The third is our relationship has improved because we share freely on the road, but have independent interests at home. Four is the envy of women: I have lost 15 pounds since last year, thereby I am more alert in body, mind and heart. The fifth is I can afford to listen to other pastors. When I was away on a missions trip, I would download sermons and walk the neighborhood, listening to a full 40-minutes message in the process. Now I cannot imagine not walking even for a day.
A London newspaper once offered an attractive cash prize for the best answer to this question: “Which is the shortest trip to London?” Letters poured in, theories sprang up, and readers followed the outcome closely until the sponsors announced the prize-winning answer. The winning entry was this: “The shortest way to London is good company.” (7,700 Illustrations # 3903)
No matter how far the distance and rough the trip, the travel is short and sweet with the right company.
The destiny of man on earth, as summarized by Jared’s life with three verbs in verses 19-20, is “he lived, he fathered, and he died. Only Enoch broke the pattern of the age through six generation so far: he lived, he fathered and he walked with God (21-22).
Walking with God is a dizzying, invigorating and humbling experience. It is a good and steady exercise, the road least traveled, but the healthiest activity and the best safeguard against sin. Those who walk on this road and travel on this journey do not wear and tear, wax and wane, or waver and doubt. It is an attitude as well as an action, more for the heart than for the feet, a daily exercise rather than a day-long exercise.
Enoch means, “dedicated,” as in dedicating offerings in the temple (Deut 20:5,
1 Kings 8:63, 2 Chron 7:5) and training a child (Prov 22:6). Enoch’s walk was as light as a stroll, as brisk as a jog, and as long as a marathon. You “walk with,” not sit with or run with. Sitting is stationary. Walking is not instantaneous, hurried or forced, and it is a reality, not a fantasy; a fact, not a feeling; and an endeavor, not an escape.
Enoch was a normal father (v 21), a good parent and a caring family man. He did not just disappear. He took care of his family’s needs before he was taken up - after his first son was born and his sons and daughters were old enough to take care of one another. Besides, Jesus is the direct descendant of Enoch (Luke 3:37).
The benefit of walking with giants is you become one, just as iron sharpens iron.
Be Passionate in Your Witness to Others
14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
(Jude 14-16)
The ninth best-selling book of all time, published more than 100 years ago in 1897, is titled “In His Steps,” which asked this famous question: “What would Jesus do”
The story began with a printer unemployed for ten months who came to town and was unable to find work or help for three days. His wife died four months ago and his child was with a family until he could find a job. In town, he saw so many Christians living in luxury but there was not a word or sympathy from town folks.
Tired and hungry, the young man stumbled into a church, collapsing and dying before the eyes of the whole congregation, which created a great sensation to the church. As he toppled over the communion table, he cried, “What would Jesus do?”
After the printer's death, the guilt-stricken pastor challenged the members, including himself, “I want volunteers from the First Church who will pledge themselves earnestly and honestly for an entire year, not to do anything without first asking the question, ‘What would Jesus do?’ And after asking the question, each one will follow Jesus as exactly as he knows how, no matter what the result may be.”
Three generations before Noah’s generation was judged there lived a man by the name of Enoch. Enoch’s view was not attractive then or now, to the saved or unsaved, whether outspoken or reworded. He was a moral crusader, a spiritual prognosticator, a truth serum, and a bearer of bad news. Enoch’s generation had sinned against God in word and deed (v 15). They were corrupted inside and outside (v 16a), and flattered themselves and others (v 16b), but he prophesied against ungodly acts, ungodly way and ungodly sinners.
Enoch was from the godly line seven generations removed from Adam. The seventh generation from ungodly Cain were three brothers – Jabal, Jubal and half-brother Tubal-Cain - whose pride and pursuit are in the field and future of construction and livestock (Gen 4:20); music and arts (Gen 4:21), craftsmanship and industry (Gen 4:22). In contrast, Enoch served the Lord and prophesied on sin, judgment, and the Lord’s coming.
Enoch announced God’s judgment on everyone, including ungodly men, disobedient angels and the sinful city of Sodom and Gomorrah (Jude 6). Jude 15 uses four “all”: to judge everyone (all), and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These include people, their practices and their persecution. Besides four “all” in verse 15, the word “ungodly” occurs three times in the book, more than any other chapter or book in the Bible – the ungodly (Jude 15), their ungodly way (Jude 15) and ungodly desires (Jude 18).
Life is more than executing judgment and escaping hell, it is also extending salvation. What does it mean in our relationship with others? Jude 22-23 says, “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them (imperative); to others show mercy (imperative), mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” The last two imperatives in Jude focuses on the present, not the past or the future, which is save and be merciful in the present (Jude 22-23).
Be Pleasing in Your Walk with God
23 Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. (Gen 5:23)
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. (Heb 11:5)
Someone once said, “The conversion of a sinner takes a moment, but the growth of a saint takes a lifetime.” The Chinese say, “It takes 10 years to plant a tree, but 100 years to plant a man!” Spiritual growth is not a short hop, a fast track, or a quick fix.
Enoch began walking with God at the age of 65, and he walked with God for the next 300 years, up to the ripe old age of 365. He wasn’t a spiritual giant instantly, irregularly, or grudgingly. It was 365 years of purpose and progress.
Dallas Willard once said in a class I took: “The person who says, ‘I don’t have time’ is very close to reproaching God.” God the Creator, the Maker, and the Author of Life, has made us for fellowship with Him. Is He your companion for life, confidant in life and counsel through life?
Giants are made, mentored and monitored, and God is the biggest, truest, surest spiritual giant. It begins with daily devotions - reading God’s word, conversing with Him, and abiding in Him.
Fellowship with God began with Adam and Eve in the garden before the fall, continued by Enoch and Noah, and extended to you and I, here and now and for all eternity. Are you ready for heaven? John Bunyan said, “When you come to the paradise of God, you shall have white robes given to you, and your walk and talk shall be every day with the King, even all the days of eternity. There you also you shall serve Him continually with Praise, shouting, and Thanksgiving.” (The Book of Jesus 534, Calvin Miller)
Please (euaresteo) occurs nowhere else in the Bible but in Hebrews (Heb 11:5, 6, 13:16). KJV translates it best as “well pleased,” please Him exceedingly, extensively, extremely, excessively, exhaustively. God is front and center, top down, inside out, small and great things all in all of a person’s life. Further the word “commended” (martureo) appears five times in the chapter (Heb 11:2, 4, 4, 5, 39), extolling the elders (v 2), Abel (v 4 twice) and now Enoch (v 5), concluding with all commended for their faith (v 39), from judges, kings, prophets (v 32).
Rom 12:1-2 twice uses the adjective form (not the verb): Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Conclusion: Walking or fellowship with God means three things: focusing on Jesus, fleeing from sin and finishing the race. Fellowship with God is a walk, a marathon and a race – it must be consistent, committed and completed. To walk an hour with God is a devotion; to walk a day with God is a discipline; but to walk a lifetime with God is devotion plus discipline plus dependence. Fellowship with God is the biggest thrill in our lives, the highest task of our lives, and the sweetest thing in life. It impacts our relationship with our family and the unsaved. It is for starving sinners, sleeping saints, and spiritual munchkins. You and I have lots of time and plenty of reasons to begin walking with God. Would you take the first step, the next step, and step by step? Do you have FAITH – follow Him in faithfulness, acknowledge Him thankfulness, imitate Him in Christlikeness, testify Him in witness, and honor Him in holiness?
Victor Yap
bible.ryl.hk (Grammar Bible)
www.preachchrist.com (Sermons)
