A WORTHY WALK (4)

“And Enoch WALKED WITH GOD; and he was not; for God took him” – Genesis 5:24

A WORTHY WALK with God is chiefly about developing a Relationship or Fellowship with Him: “And Enoch WALKED WITH GOD; and he was not; for God took him” (Gen.5:24). There is no record that any of Enoch’s progenitors walked with God. The narrations were simply about who gave birth to who, how long each lived before procreating and ending in death! Jared “begot” Enoch at 162 years and lived another 800 years, totaling 962 years (vv.18-20). No record of walking with God! Enoch “begot” Methuselah at 65 years (v.21). Then the narration changed: He “walked with God three hundred years” – an entire lifespan of 365 years (vv.21-23). But he didn’t die; he was “raptured” (v.24). Enoch’s was a Worthy Walk – a Model for the Believer in Christ!

Even though Enoch walked with God, his son Methuselah who by Bible records lived the longest ever – 969 years – died without the testimony of walking with God. So, the essence of Life is not in its duration, but in our “donation” to life. Enoch and Elijah were two men who did not die; God took them – a picture of the Rapture! Interestingly, Enoch didn’t live like a hermit or recluse; he “had sons and daughters” (v.22). Though a busy father, he accomplished the amazing feat of walking with God for three centuries! The testimony that he pleased God in his walk reverberates eternally: “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” (Heb.11:5).

The word ‘walk’ literally means to take steps physically to a destination. However, the Hebrew meaning of walk figuratively defines developing a relationship or fellowship with God. There is conversation back and forth when we are walking with someone. We are getting to know and understand that person. The Believer’s Walk with God – now in the Persons of His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit – works the same way. Four individuals in Scriptures are labelled as Walking with God – Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Zacharias. Each had character traits of obedience, faith, not being conformed to the world, and walking worthy of their vocation.

Noah walked with God. Though living only ten generations from Adam, the Bible describes Noah thus: “a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah WALKED with GOD” (Gen.6:9). He was faithful and feared the Lord, prompting him to obey His commandments and build an ark. Noah separated his position from the world to become a righteous man: “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household; by the which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Heb.11:7).

Abraham also walked with God, by Faith. He obeyed the Lord and followed His path, not knowing where God was taking him: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Heb.11:8). On a particular occasion, the Lord specifically instructed him: “I am Almighty God; WALK before Me and be blameless” (Gen.17:1b). His response of obedience to this Word immediately elevated the trajectory of his life!

Zacharias and Elizabeth walked with God. The couple gave birth to John the Baptist, who paved the way for our Savior’s coming. Both parents were noted as being righteous, walking in God’s commandments: “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, WALKING in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Lk.1: 5-6).

If Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Zechariah could have testimonies of a Worthy Walk with God, we can have the same, by His Grace!