Enoch: A Walk That Ends in Eternity
Originally delivered at New Hope Community Church on April 21, 2024.
Horses and Buffalo
When I was 16, I went to pick up my girlfriend at the time to drive and meet my parents and grandparents to watch a hockey game downtown. Now, where we lived, downtown was north of my house. There's a highway, I-27, that runs north and south in Amarillo. Also, in that part of Texas, there was this trend where businesses would put these horse statues outside, like on a concrete pad. They'd be painted either for the business or just with some pro-west Texas kind of artwork. Other towns did different animals - like Canyon, Texas, about 15 minutes south of Amarillo, had buffalos that were painted and stuff outside of businesses. Anyway, I pick up my girlfriend, and we get on I-27 and start heading toward the hockey arena. It's like a 15-minute drive or so. Well, we drive for a while. And a little while more. And I'm somewhat confused and concerned because nothing is really even looking familiar to me. So I ask my girlfriend to call my parents just to see if they have any idea what's going on. She calls and tells them that nothing is really looking familiar - and I'm still just concentrating on the road. She looks around, not knowing about this animal trend thing as it's pretty new at this time, and says, "I'm not really sure where we are... but there's buffalos outside of some of these businesses. Are we going the right way?"
Turns out that there's a pretty big difference between going North on an interstate and South on an interstate. In my case, the difference was big enough to put us into another town altogether. Canyon, Texas. 15 minutes south of Amarillo, instead of the hockey arena north from where we lived. This was before the days of Apple Maps, CarPlay, Waze, or any of that. But it wasn't before the days of buying a GPS. Which is what happened the next day. And I've used one ever since. You know, I've always been pretty horrible with directions. And Cassy gives me a hard time for it - saying I rely on the GPS too much. But I need one! Clearly.
Because navigating this world requires a GPS. There's times as we go through life and we look around us and the landmarks don't look familiar. We can get turned around, confused, and even end up in places we never intended to go. See what I did there? Now she can't get on to me for it because it's spiritual. Just kidding. But in all seriousness, we need direction - and that's exactly what walking with God provides. When we stay close to Him, in His Word in prayer, in seeking Him, we can be sure that we're on the right path, even when the world around us seems to be heading in a totally different direction.
But if there was ever a guy who knew a thing or two about walking with God in a wicked world, it was Enoch.
I. Introducing Enoch
Let's take a quick look at Enoch's story in Genesis 5:21-24:
“When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methusalah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”
Now, I know what you're thinking - "Those are some seriously weird names." But stick with me, because there's some really good stuff here. First of all, we see that Enoch was just a regular guy living a regular life. He had a wife, he had kids, he probably had a mortgage and a minivan just like the rest of us. But there was something special about Enoch - he walked with God.
This wasn't just a Sunday morning stroll, though. Enoch's walk with God was a daily, moment-by-moment journey. It was a lifestyle, a constant communion with his Creator. And it wasn't always easy. Enoch lived in a time when the world was going haywire, when wickedness was the norm and following God was the exception. But Enoch didn't let that deter him. Day after day, year after year, he just kept putting one foot in front of the other, steadily moving forward in his relationship with God. And the amazing thing? God noticed. In fact, God was so pleased with Enoch's faith that He did something extraordinary - He took him straight to heaven, bypassing death altogether.
The author of Hebrews gives us a little more insight into what made Enoch's walk with God so special:
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. ...And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
You see, walking with God isn't about perfect behavior or religious rituals. It's about faith - a deep, abiding trust in who God is and what He's promised, even when we can't see the full picture. It's about believing that God is real, that He cares about us, and that He's worth seeking with everything we've got. And when we live like that - when we make our relationship with God the center of our lives, not just something we do on Sundays - it changes everything. As Skip Heitzig puts it:
“A walk with God is different from a jog with God or a chat with God or a weekly visit with God...A walk with God is consistent, daily, 24/7. You let him in on everything. You are walking with Him. You’re always in His presence.”
Can you imagine what that kind of walk with God would look like in your own life? It's not about being perfect or having it all together. It's about a constant, ongoing conversation with the One who made you, loves you, and has a purpose for your life. It's about letting Him guide your steps, even when the path isn't clear. And the good news is, we don't have to do it alone. Just like my GPS guides me when I'm lost on the road, God's Word and His Spirit are there to lead us every step of the way. All we have to do is tune in, trust Him, and keep walking. But I'm not gonna lie - it's not always a walk in the park. Enoch's journey of faith wasn't easy, and ours won't be either. Because the truth is, we're living in a world that's a lot like the one Enoch walked in - a world that's often hostile to the things of God.
II. The Wicked World Enoch Walked In
But here's the thing - Enoch wasn't exactly living in a time of spiritual revival. In fact, things were getting pretty dark. If we back up to Genesis 4, we meet a guy named Lamech who was basically the poster child for everything that was wrong with the world. Lamech was a descendant of Cain, the guy who murdered his brother Abel back in the garden. And let's just say the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Lamech was proud, boastful, and had a serious anger problem. In fact, he even brags about killing a guy just for wounding him! (Gen. 4:23-24) Can you imagine living in a world like that? A world where violence and vengeance were celebrated, where might made right and no one seemed to care about God at all? It's the kind of world where faith is mocked, where walking with God makes you stick out like a sore thumb. And Lamech wasn't the only one. As the generations went on, things just kept getting worse. By the time we get to Genesis 6, God looks down at the earth and sees this:
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Talk about a dumpster fire! The world had gotten so messed up that hardly anyone was following God anymore. People were doing whatever they wanted, chasing after their own desires and pleasures with no thought of the consequences. It's the kind of world that can make you want to throw up your hands and just go with the flow. I mean, why bother swimming upstream when it seems like everyone else is happily drifting the other way? But right in the middle of all that darkness, there was Enoch - the one guy who just kept walking with God no matter what everyone else was doing. Day in and day out, he chose to put God first, to live by faith even when it made him an oddball in his own community.
As Eric Watkins writes:
“In a world where self-exaltation rather than God-glorification is the norm, Enoch proved to be the exception. In the face of a culture that was serving self rather than God, Enoch would not be deterred.”
Can you imagine the kind of guts that took? The kind of faith it required to look around at a world that was totally off the rails and say, "Nope, not me. I'm gonna keep walking with God, no matter what." That's the kind of faith I want in my own life. The kind of faith that doesn't just go with the flow, but is willing to stand out, to be different, to walk a narrow path even when everyone else is on the highway to hell. Because here's the thing - walking with God has never been about fitting in with the crowd. It's always been about staying true to your faith, even when the rest of the world thinks you're crazy. And if we're honest, that's not always easy. It can be lonely, it can be hard, it can even be scary at times. But the good news is, we're not alone on this journey. We've got a God who walks with us every step of the way, and we've got examples like Enoch to show us what it looks like to live by faith in a faithless world.
III. Characteristics of Enoch's Walk with God
So what did Enoch's walk with God actually look like? Well, I think we can see a few key characteristics:
A. Intimate Friendship & Communion
First of all, walking with God was about more than just checking the "quiet time" box on his spiritual to-do list. It was a real, intimate friendship. The phrase "walked with God" in Genesis 5 paints a picture of closeness and conversation, like two friends strolling through the park together. See – to walk with another person is to be close to them. It’s to share a path. It’s to enter into a conversation, maybe even adventure, but to just enjoy being close.
I love that picture - of a God who doesn't just want our obedience, but our company. A God who invites us into a real relationship with Him, full of conversation and closeness and joy. You know, sometimes we can think of our faith as just a set of rules to follow or beliefs to hold. But at its core, Christianity is about a relationship - a deep, personal friendship with the God who made us and loves us. And that's what Enoch had. He didn't just know about God; he knew God. He walked with Him, talked with Him, shared his life with Him. And that intimate communion shaped everything about who Enoch was and how he lived.
B. Consistent Obedience
But walking with God wasn't just about warm fuzzy feelings. It was also about obedience. Just like walking a path requires putting one foot in front of the other, walking with God means consistently choosing to follow His ways, even when it's hard. Deuteronomy 5:33 puts it this way:
“You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.”
You see, walking with God isn't a one-time decision; it's a daily choice to put His will above our own. It's a commitment to obey Him, not just when it's easy or convenient, but in every area of our lives. And as the author of Hebrews reminds us, that kind of obedience is impossible without faith:
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those. who seek Him.”
Faith and obedience go hand in hand.
We can't claim to trust God if we're not willing to obey Him.
And we can't obey Him consistently if we don't really believe He knows what's best for us.
Enoch's life was marked by that kind of faith-fueled obedience. Day after day, year after year, he chose to walk in God's ways, even when it wasn't popular or easy. He trusted that God's path was the best path, and he stayed on it no matter what.
C. Finishing Well
Finally, Enoch's walk with God wasn't a short-term fling. It was a lifelong commitment. Genesis 5 tells us that Enoch walked with God for 300 years! That's longer than most of us will even be alive, let alone walking faithfully with the Lord. Can you imagine the kind of perseverance that took? The daily choice to keep putting one foot in front of the other, to keep seeking God and obeying Him even when the journey was long and the road was rough? I don't know about you, but I want that kind of staying power in my own walk with God. I want to be like Enoch - not just starting well, but finishing well. Not just sprinting out of the gates, but running the race with endurance, all the way to the finish line. How awesome would it be if someone could sum up my life with the words, “Austin walked with God." For Enoch his whole life is summed up in those words – and what incredible words to strive for.
See, our walk with God isn't just about this life. It's about eternity. It's about a relationship that starts now but lasts forever. As Pastor Sam Martin puts it:
“Enoch’s walk with God goes uninterrupted into an eternity in God’s presence.”
That's the kind of walk I want - a walk that doesn't end when I breathe my last, but carries me straight into the arms of my Savior. A walk that's just the beginning of a forever friendship with the God who loves me more than I can imagine. And the good news is, that's the kind of walk God wants with each and every one of us. He's not looking for perfect people; He's looking for faithful people. People who will keep walking with Him, keep trusting Him, keep obeying Him, no matter what life throws their way. So how do we cultivate that kind of walk? How do we stay on the narrow path when the wide road is so much easier? Well, Enoch's life gives us a few clues.
We need to prioritize intimacy with God, seeking Him daily through prayer and His Word.
We need to choose obedience, even when it's hard or unpopular.
And we need to persevere, fixing our eyes on the eternal reward that awaits us.
IV. The Reward of Walking with God
So why do it? Why keep walking with God when it's hard and unpopular and sometimes just plain exhausting? Well, I think Enoch's story gives us a glimpse of the incredible reward that awaits those who stay faithful to the end. First of all, walking with God brings pleasure to God's heart. Hebrews 11:5 tells us that "before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God." Just like a parent delights in spending time with their child, God delights in us when we draw near to Him. Can you imagine that? The God of the universe, the One who created everything from the stars in the sky to the fish in the sea, actually takes pleasure in spending time with you and me. When we walk with Him, when we seek Him and obey Him and just enjoy being in His presence, it brings a smile to His face.
That's a reward in itself, if you ask me. To know that we can bring joy to the heart of God just by walking with Him - that's incredible. But it's not the only reward Enoch's story reveals. You see, walking with God doesn't just bring pleasure to His heart; it also brings peace to ours. When we're in step with our Creator, when we're living in obedience to His will and in communion with His Spirit, there's a sense of rightness, of wholeness, that nothing else can match.
I love how the Psalmist puts it in Psalm 16:11:
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures unseen.”
Walking with God is the path of life. It's the way to true joy, true satisfaction, true peace. Even in the midst of a world that's full of chaos and confusion, we can have a sense of anchor, of stability, because we know the One who holds it all together. But the rewards of walking with God don't stop there. Enoch's story also reminds us that walking with God is the path to true life - the kind of abundant, eternal life that Jesus promised. Genesis 5:24 puts it this way:
“Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”
In other words, Enoch's relationship with God was so close, so intimate, that one day God just said, "You know what? Enough of this long-distance thing. Come on home and be with me forever." And just like that, Enoch skipped right past the whole death thing and went straight into the joy of God's presence for eternity. Three people in the Bible were called up to heaven, Elijah, Enoch, and Jesus. Can you imagine that moment? One minute, you're walking with God on earth, the next, you're face to face with Him in heaven, experiencing the fullness of His glory and the perfection of His love. That's the ultimate reward of walking with God - an eternity in His presence, an eternity of joy and peace and wonder that will make all the trials and struggles of this life fade away like a forgotten dream.
As Eric Watkins puts it:
“The reward is God himself. What greater thing can await us in heaven than that of perfected communion with God? ...To walk with God is to be obedient to His calling, to His will, and to walk in the direction that He is calling us. ...The fullness of our reward is something we must continue to seek by faith until we enter glory either by the veil of death or by being caught up alive into heaven.”
But here's the thing - we don't have to wait until heaven to start experiencing the rewards of walking with God. Jesus said in John 10:10:
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
When we walk with God, when we live in relationship with Him, we get to experience a taste of that abundant life right here and now. We get to know the joy of His presence, the peace of His Spirit, the strength of His love. Sure, life isn't always easy. Walking with God doesn't mean we'll never face hardship or heartache or pain. But it does mean that we'll never face it alone. We'll have a God who walks with us through the valleys, who comforts us in our sorrows, who gives us hope in our darkest hours. And we'll have the assurance that no matter what happens in this life, we have an eternal reward waiting for us on the other side. A reward that will make every sacrifice worth it, every struggle fade away, every tear be wiped from our eyes forever.
That's the reward of walking with God. That's what Enoch experienced, and it's what we can experience too, if we're willing to trust Him, obey Him, and just keep walking, one step at a time. And remembering that we're not walking alone, because We have a God who loves us, a Savior who died for us, and a Holy Spirit who empowers us every step of the way. And we have the promise that one day, just like Enoch, we'll see our faith become sight as we walk right into the glory of God's presence forever.
V. Walking with God Today
So what does all of this mean for us today right now? How do we follow in Enoch's footsteps and walk with God in our own wicked world? Well, the good news is that we don't have to do it alone. In fact, we can't do it alone. The only way to truly walk with God is through faith in Jesus Christ.
Colossians 2:6 says it this way:
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”
When we put our trust in Jesus, when we accept His sacrifice on the cross and His victory over the grave, we're not just signing up for a new religion or a set of rules to follow. We're entering into a living, dynamic relationship with the God of the universe. And that relationship is meant to transform every aspect of our lives. It starts with our hearts. Walking with God means surrendering our wills to His, letting Him shape our desires and our dreams and our priorities. It means learning to love what He loves and hate what He hates, to see the world through His eyes and to feel the world through His heart. But it doesn't stop there. Walking with God also means walking in His ways, obeying His commands and following His lead. It means putting one foot in front of the other, day after day, choice after choice, and trusting that He knows the way, even when the path is steep or the fog is thick. So how do we cultivate that kind of intimacy with God? Well, it starts with spending time in His Word and in prayer. Just like any friendship, our relationship with God grows deeper as we communicate with Him and listen to His voice. And let me tell you, there is nothing sweeter than the voice of God. When we open up His Word, when we pour out our hearts to Him in prayer, He speaks to us. He comforts us, He challenges us, He changes us from the inside out.
But walking with God isn't just about our private devotions. It's about living out our faith in the world around us. It's about being a light in the darkness, a city on a hill that can't be hidden. And sometimes, that means making some tough choices. It means saying "no" to the things that pull us away from God, even if everyone else is saying "yes." It means standing up for what's right, even when it's unpopular or uncomfortable. None of that is easy. Walking with God in a wicked world means swimming upstream, going against the grain, living a life that looks radically different from the culture around us. But here's the thing - we're not doing it to earn God's love or to prove our own goodness. We're doing it because we've experienced the love of God, and we can't help but respond with gratitude and obedience. We're doing it because we know that walking with God is the only way to truly live, the only way to find the joy and peace and purpose we were created for. And ultimately, we're doing it because we know that this life is just the beginning. Just like Enoch, we have an eternal reward waiting for us, a forever home in the presence of God. And everything we do here on earth, every step we take in our walk with God, is preparing us for that glorious day.
As 1 Thessalonians 4:17 promises:
“Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
Can you imagine that day? Can you picture the moment when we see Jesus face to face, when we're caught up in the air to be with Him forever? Can you fathom the joy, the wonder, the awe of being in His presence for all eternity?
That's what we're walking towards, my friends. That's the hope that keeps us going when the road is rough and the world is dark. And it's a hope that's only possible because of Jesus. You see, Enoch was a great example of walking with God, but he was just a glimpse, a shadow, of the greater reality to come. It was Jesus who truly bridged the gap between God and man, who made a way for us to be reconciled to our Creator and walk with Him forever. And when Jesus walked this earth, He showed us what it looks like to live in perfect communion with the Father. He obeyed God's will, even unto death. He loved the unlovable, touched the untouchable, and spoke truth to the powerless and the powerful alike. And through His death and resurrection, He made it possible for us to do the same.
So as we seek to walk with God in our own lives, let's keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Let's lean on His strength when we're weak, follow in His footsteps when the path is unclear, and trust in His love when the world feels cold and cruel. And let's never forget the ultimate reward that awaits us - an eternity in the presence of the One who made us, who loves us, and who gave His very life to bring us back home.
VI. A Challenge
I want to leave you with a challenge:
This week, I want you to take a hard look at your walk with God.
Are you walking in intimacy with Him, spending time in His presence and listening for His voice?
Are you walking in obedience to His commands, even when it's difficult or uncomfortable?
Are you walking with eternity in mind, keeping your eyes fixed on the ultimate reward?
If we're honest, I think we all have room for improvement. We all have areas where we're prone to wander, where we're tempted to take a detour or a shortcut. But the good news is, we don't have to stay stuck. We can choose, moment by moment, day by day, to keep walking with God, to keep putting one foot in front of the other in faith and obedience. And as we do, I believe we'll start to see a change. We'll start to experience more of the joy and peace and purpose that comes from walking with our Creator. We'll start to make a difference in the world around us, shining the light of Christ into the darkest corners of our communities. And we'll start to live with a greater sense of anticipation and excitement, knowing that the best is yet to come. So let's be people who walk with God. Let's be the Enochs of our generation - the ones who stand out because of our unwavering faith and our unflinching obedience. It won't be easy. There will be times when we feel like we're the only ones on the narrow road. But let's remember that we're not walking alone. We're walking with the Creator of the universe, the Savior of our souls, and the Lover of our hearts. He sees the beginning from the end, and He has a purpose and a plan for our lives that we might never know in this life. But we can know this: when we walk with Him, we are exactly where we're meant to be.
In a world that changes by the minute, let's cling to the One who never changes. Let's love Him, trust Him, obey Him. And let's keep on walking - this day and every day - knowing that our final destination is the eternal city of God where we will know a joy that goes beyond our wildest imagination: forever life in the presence of the One who made us, died for us, and calls us his own. And you know, there's no better reminder of that incredible love and sacrifice than communion together, as believers. So as we enter this time of communion together, let's remember what it cost for us to be able to walk with God. Let's remember the body that was broken and the blood that was shed so that we could be reconciled to our Creator.
The bread and the cup are vivid reminders of the price Jesus paid to make a way for us to come home. They're symbols of the new covenant, the unbreakable promise that God will never leave us or forsake us, that He'll walk with us every step of the way until we see Him face to face. So as we take these elements today, let's do it with hearts full of gratitude and awe. Let's do it with a renewed commitment to walking with God, no matter what the world throws our way. And let's do it with eyes fixed on eternity, knowing that the best is yet to come.
"Father, as we come to this table today, we're reminded of the incredible sacrifice that made it possible for us to walk with You. We're reminded of the body that was broken and the blood that was shed so that we could be called Your sons and daughters. Jesus, thank You for enduring the cross, despising its shame, and paying the ultimate price for our redemption. Thank You for making a way for us to be reconciled to the Father and to walk with Him in unbroken fellowship. As we take this bread, we remember Your body that was beaten and bruised for our iniquities. We remember the stripes that purchased our healing and the nails that bore the weight of our sin. As we drink this cup, we remember Your blood that was poured out as a ransom for many. We remember the new covenant in Your blood, the promise that You will never leave us or forsake us, and that nothing can ever separate us from Your love. God, we're amazed by Your grace, humbled by Your mercy, and overwhelmed by Your love. We know that we could never earn or deserve this gift of communion with You, but we receive it with grateful hearts. As we partake of these elements, may they nourish our souls just as they nourish our bodies. May they remind us of the price You paid and the love You lavished on us. And may they strengthen us to walk with You in greater intimacy, obedience, and joy. Thank You for the privilege of this table. Thank You for the invitation to walk with You, both now and forevermore. May our lives be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You, as we follow in the footsteps of faithful Enoch.
We pray all of this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen."