HOLDING HANDS WITH GOD

By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5, The Message

You’ve probably heard the story all your life. “Enoch walked with God” (Gen. 5:22).

The Message has it, “walked steadily with God.” Then “he was not.” He disappeared. One way it’s told is that Enoch walked with God so long that one day God said, “Enoch, we’re closer to My house than yours; why don’t you come on home with Me?”

Did you ever wonder how they knew God had taken him? Couldn’t he have just died somewhere, out where no one saw him? Couldn’t wild animals have gotten him, or bandits? How did they know that when they couldn’t find Enoch, it meant God had taken him to heaven without death?

No doubt part of that answer is to be found in revelation; in other words, God told someone, whether by vision, or in a dream. Or maybe someone even saw him disappear, as Elisha saw Elijah go into heaven.

But the most important reason people knew where Enoch had gone is because of who Enoch was. He walked with God. Everywhere he went, people could tell Enoch was holding God’s hand. How did they know that? What did Enoch do that made it clear he was always aware of God by his side? Some things are obvious, even without knowing Enoch.

He must have been kind and loving and helpful. He must have been self-sacrificing, looking out for the needs of others. He must have been clearly different from the rapidly worsening people in the pre-Flood era.

But there’s one more thing we know about Enoch, and it’s found in that tiny little book called Jude. Jude 13-15 says that Enoch prophesied about the Second Coming! Thousands of years before Jesus was even born the first time, Enoch saw a vision about Him coming in judgment. There’s only one way he could have seen that: He and God were close friends.

Great Leader, I know that Your deepest desire is that each of us follow You as closely as Enoch did. I desire that, too. I long to be constantly and contentedly aware of Your gentle, guiding presence. I want to cling to Your hand like a little child, walking by Your side through this world. Then, someday soon, I want to go home with You! The sooner, the better!