"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. 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" (Hebrews 11:5-6).
"Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:21-24).
IDEA: Those who walk with God in any age may experience what Enoch had.
PURPOSE: To help listeners appreciate how much God values our faith.
On the tombstone of Fannie Crosby, the noted hymn writer, it says, "She did what she could." On another stone of an unknown person it says, "He made a difference." What does that tell you? If you could in five words or less sum up on your tombstone what you'd like said of you, what would those words be?
I. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews includes in his honor roll of faith a man whose life is summed up in a sentence or two.
He writes about a man named Enoch: "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."
The account of Enoch's life in the Old Testament isn't very long: Enoch's life is summed up in a single sentence (Genesis 5:24): Enoch walked with God and he was not because God took him.
Why do you think that the writer of Hebrews singled out Enoch and not a man with a similar name, Enosh who lived a lot longer (905 years) than Enoch (365 years)?
Do you think we would have noticed Enoch even if the writer of Hebrews hadn't mentioned him? Why?
II. What is there to learn from the brief obituary of Enoch?
Maybe we should learn that it not the DURATION but the DONATION of a life that matters. Do you think that is a valid lesson to draw from Enoch's life?
Enoch was not commended for what he did but for what he was.
Enoch wasn't commended for his accomplishments, but for the fact that he had a Friend -- he walked with God. Is that something that could be true for any of us?