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"By faith, Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found because God has taken him. Now before he was taken and he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever draw near to God must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:5-6
Hebrews 11 talked about mighty men of God from different generations who exemplified extraordinary faith. Many a time we have heard about a man named Enoch who was one of the champions of faith in this chapter. He is known on those few verses as the one who ‘was taken away by God and then was no more.’ The Bible mentioned little about him, yet his experience cannot be discounted. The few verses that determined his person communicate so much more to us if only we would look closely.
On how he was taken, surely it was the whole of him. As many commentators believed, Enoch was taken wholly in his physical body to be with the Lord since verse 5 says, ‘... that he should not see death, and he was not found.’ Interestingly, God did not take him because he had faith that he will be taken by Him, for he had already lived 365 years when God took him. And in those years, Enoch had lived pleasing God; confirming in verse 6 that he pleased God with his faith. (For it is impossible to please God without faith.) I noted to myself, he pleased God. For 365 300 years (ref. Gen. 5:21).
Many would declare that they would die for Christ, yet many of us struggle to live for Him. That daily basis of battle is overwhelmingly exhausting. At times, it even overcomes us. How did Enoch do it? As I study Hebrews 11, I realized that living out our faith would only be possible through faith as well!
“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17
The undeniable truth of living a holy life makes it much easier to just excuse ourselves oftentimes. This difficult task will only be resolved if we will seriously consider these bases as our cause to labor well in our walk.
1. That God and His Providence are ever present with us.
It makes it easier for a man to bear his cross with patience knowing that God’s sovereignty is always present even at a time of affliction. That despite sufferings lay upon him, he knew that the Lord had already determined it for his good, no matter how visibly distressing it is. For if you walk with the King, who could dare do you wrong? “So, he that walks with God, what evil can touch him?” (W. Perkins). The point is, people around you may think of evil against you, but the Lord has the power to dispose of it all for your good.
We remember Joseph the Dreamer, the guy who was plotted by his brothers to death. But then again, providentially, their plan changed to subject him to slavery. He suffered for many years as a slave and then was thrown to prison. Later on, the Lord prospered him to be the second most powerful man next to the Pharoah in Egypt at a time that powers will be recognized more than ever. When his brothers discovered who he became, they feared him. But then he argued, “Fear not… for am I not under God?” (Gen. 50:19)
2. That We are in God’s Presence
That consciousness that we are in the very presence of God every second of our life persuades our choices to please him than ourselves. Sins become more visible to us when we see our invisible God with our hearts. His fullness is always brought to our remembrance - how righteous His judgments are and how powerful He can execute it. We flashback once more to Joseph when he was accused to have mistreated his mistress, he answered, “How shall I commit this great wickedness, and to sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9). The holy company of God keeps him away from committing sins.
The duty of our faith to be faithful is dependent not on itself but on the God who gifted us this wondrous grace. To have faith on His providence and His presence is to bring remembrance that we are not our own but belong to God, and for that, we are preserved until His return. Soli Deo Gloria!
Reference: Hebrews 11 Commentary by William Perkins
