WALKING IN CLOSE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

Genesis 5
²¹When Enoch was 65 years old, Methuselah was born.
²²Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God after the birth of Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters.
²³So all the days of Enoch were 365 years.
²⁴And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him]. (Amplified Bible)

Genesis 5
²²After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived another 300 years in close fellowship with God, and he had other sons and daughters. ²³Enoch lived 365 years in all. ²⁴He enjoyed a close relationship with God throughout his life. Then suddenly, he disappeared because God took him. (NLT)

Genesis 5
²⁴Enoch walked steadily with God. And then one day he was simply gone: God took him. (The Message)

Hebrews 11
⁵By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. "They looked all over and couldn't find him because God had taken him." We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken "he pleased God." (The Message)

I love the simple testimony of Enoch as given in Genesis and have pondered it many, many times. Enoch is mentioned in only two other places in scripture besides Genesis and Hebrews, once in Luke as part of the lineage of Jesus (Luke 3:37) and then in Jude 14 as having a prophetic ministry and prophesying the second coming of Christ-a very advanced teaching for his day to say the least.

What appeals to me especially about Enoch is the utter simplicity of his life and how he was remembered-not for some great theology or even tremendous deeds but simply because he "walked in habitual fellowship with God" and as a natural result of this God finally took him home to continue that walk.

I think that those who finally arrive at the "pearly gates" will be those who have learned to walk with God their earthly pilgrimage. Perhaps they may know little or nothing of sophisticated theology but somehow God's love has touched their heart at some level and they have responded and have learned to have "close fellowship with God" and so they are at home in heaven which is where their heart always has been. That is where I seek to be during my earthly pilgrimage. I do not have a desire to debate about complicated theological matters but just to live in close fellowship with my God and someday I also will be called home to continue that fellowship. That close walk with God is the burning passion of my life and it could never be otherwise. I seek to do all within my power to encourage others to cultivate a close walk with God.

Tom Durst