“When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them… When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son.., and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.
“When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.
“When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died…
“When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died…
“When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch… When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
“When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.” Genesis 5:1b-11,18,21-27
Since the fall, every man and woman born also died; God’s warning came true. One jewel of a life stands out in the genealogy of the generations of Adam, that of his descendant Enoch, whose life is described differently from all the others: he walked with God. We do not know whether others walked with Him, although Enoch’s son Methuselah died in Noah’s 600th year, assumedly in the flood of judgment. What we do know is that Enoch was distinctive because of his relationship with his Heavenly Father. (Genesis 2:16-17; 5:28-32; 7:11)
For us to be described as individuals who walk with God, He would be the One who set our direction and gait, the companion at our side with whom we intimately and comfortably conversed. How true is this of me?
With whom do I daily walk? Is it someone speaking through my earbuds, on a screen, or from a book? Who sets my schedule and GPS? My self-drive, or the Lord’s wise path as revealed in His word? Who determines my tempo, the rhythm of my hours? The metronome of my will, or a mind transformed by God’s? (Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 12:1-2)
What regular practices or disciplines structure our days to set us on the Lord’s path and make us available for His specific calling? What evidence is there in our industry, service, and conversation that we are intentionally in step with God? What change is needed that would adjust our stride, or our direction, or our daily destination, to get us astride with our Lord?
This mysterious Enoch, rather than dying, simply was no more. Walking with God affects our life now through the end. Walking with God by faith assures that our death is simply a transition: we are no more here on earth, but we are with the Lord forever. Is there a greater hope in life or death? (John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)
Father, distinguish my life by my walk with You.
As the rain and snow 