“God Took Him” (Gen 5:24)

“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Gen 5:24).

Doing what God says is REWARDING. Enoch walked with God, and God rewarded Him abundantly, even as He will us. We are not the losers by walking with God but we benefit eternally and down here.

First, we walk by believing the gospel of His grace and relying on Him. Like Abel and Seth, we worship on God's terms, the way that He declares, by faith in the Son (Gen 4:25-26). We honor Jesus for EARNING the grace we so freely receive by loving others and desiring they know grace too . When God opens the eyes, He gives a desire and gifts, whereby we spend our life opening eyes, so others can see. Christ told Paul, “I have appeared unto you for this purpose... to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God” (Acts 26:16-18)

Secondly, we walk with God BECAUSE OF the misery of this world. Enoch knew death and judgment were coming, so he walked with God, so that he could be spared mercifully. Eight times in Gen 5, we see “death” and we're reminded the Lord cursed the earth. Enoch fled to his refuge in God, lest he face the anger of God, and to alleviate the burden of the curse (Gen 5:5, 8, 11, etc). He had a need, and God met his needs to the saving of his soul.

Thirdly, the reward is great: “God took him”. And, when God takes us, He brings us to fullness of joy (Acts 2:28). Paradise is having all that you want, all that you desire, and having it all the time; it is knowing that nothing will ever change. There are no clouds to block the light, no thorns to make labor hard, and sin is not only put away, but it will not rise again - “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, nether sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev 21:4).

This FULLNESS of joy kept Christ going, and it is the inheritance of the faithful. Even here, as we walk with God, we get more out of life than if we walked in pride. Grace is better. He says it is good for us to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).

Lastly, this walk is for you. Call upon God's name and worship on His terms, and He will be faithful to you (Gen 5:28-32). He will love you home and bless you forever.