What Was Special about Enoch?

And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. – Genesis 5:23, 24

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I just received word that my dear kindergarten teacher, who is also my mother’s best friend, has tested positive for COVID-19. She already has COPD and is certain she is headed for Heaven soon.

My heart is heavy, but I sense the Holy Spirit reminding me to keep the faith, to trust God, to accept his will – whatever that may be.

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I’ve often wondered what it was that made Enoch special, his relationship with God so close, that God chose to take him instead of allowing him to live out his life on earth as nearly every other person has done. (God also took Elijah to paradise in a chariot of fire, in 2 Kings 2).

I recently discovered the simple answer to that question: faith.

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. – Hebrews 11:5

Faith.

Through his great faith, Enoch pleased the Lord.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. – Hebrews 11:1, 6

James 1 says that the testing of our faith strengthens it. I can’t imagine what Enoch experienced, to increase his faith so greatly that God wanted him to live in Heaven.

But I do know that faith is the building block of our Christian life.

Without it, we cannot be saved.

Without pursuing it, we cannot live our Christian life as we should.

Without strengthening it, we cannot grow in many other aspects of our relationship with God.

In light of all that, I am grateful that God asks only that we have a small amount of faith, as represented by a seed: just a tiny shelled thing with an even tinier bit of life at its heart. During difficult times, a seed of faith may be all we can manage.

 

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. – Matthew 17:20

No matter what you are going through right now, I encourage you – and I strive to – hold on to a seed of faith. Trust God, and let that seed grow. He promises you’ll be able to move mountains.

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Do you have a friend or loved one diagnosed with COVID-19? If you’d like me to pray for them, please share in the comments.