“Enoch“
[By Phillip Chatot]

From the Bible, we know that Enoch was Adam’s great-great-great-great-grandson, and Noah’s great-grandfather, who loved a holy and faithful life to the Lord. He is also the father of Methuselah (Genesis 5:21), the longest living man. Enoch is also one of only two people taken straight to heaven (Elijah – 2 Kings 2:11).

If you are not an obituary reader, you are not missing anything. Each day the names are different, but the stories are the same. I was thinking, what would it be like to read in the obituary column: and he died, he passed on, he died, and then read, “So and so” did not die, for God took him!! To heaven! Wow.

I have found such an obituary column! It was recorded years ago. It is not found in the “Burlington Free Press.” It is in our Bibles – Genesis chapter 5. When reading through chapter 5, when you get to verse 24 (NKJV): “…Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (read verses 21-24).

Enoch walked with God. To walk with God means that his way of life was to follow God’s way. Not only did he walk with God, he did so for 300 years. I think this is really “Great” especially when people struggle walking with God from day to day! Enoch loved God and wanted to be with God (1 John 2:6).

Hebrews 11:5-6 – “5 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. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Enoch’s removal from earth (without death) would be a reminder that there is life after death. A message to us all to continue our walk with God.