Faith and our walk with God
It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:5-6 NLT
Our faith in God grows out of our fellowship with Him. Fellowshipping with God is to desire and to seek Him diligently. We walk with God when we spend time in prayer, reading His Word, offer our wholehearted worship, and engage in spiritual discipline. This longing to live our life fellowshipping with Him is a result of our belief “that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Our spiritual growth will help us overcome the temptations from the wickedness of this world. Enoch lived His life in constant fellowship with God. “When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him” (Genesis 5:21-24). Before the Flood, Enoch kept himself having his life pleasing before God. Corruption and immorality exist rampant during the time of Enoch yet he focused himself in constantly seeking having fellowship with God. Authentic fellowship with God cannot exist without faith in Him. There is a deep conviction within that God is pleased when life is lived in accordance with His will. The world was destroyed by Flood because the people ignored the existence of God. Enoch was taken by God without experiencing physical death. Elijah is the other person who was taken by God without going through death. “When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal” (2 Kings 2:1). Enoch and Elijah were rewarded by God when both of them were taken away immediately transitioning to His presence. This happened because of their faith in God. Their faith is based on God’s love and His goodness. These should also be the foundations of our faith: God is good and He is love. Just like Abel, Enoch was commended by God because of faith. “Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith” (Hebrews 11:4). Faith that precedes and produces a walk that rightly honors God will please Him and will be rewarded.
Blessings,
