Going, Going, Gone

Going, Going, Gone

Q: What man does this verse refer to? “It was by faith that _____ was taken up to heaven without dying—‘he disappeared, because God took him.’”

• a. Noah
• b. Elisha
• c. Enoch

Enoch is another man mentioned in the Hall of Faith who we don’t know much about (see yesterday’s devotion). Genesis 5:21-24 says, “When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.”

Enoch lived at a time when the world was becoming wicked, before God destroyed everything with a flood and started over. Enoch stood out because he walked with God. This doesn’t mean that he literally walked with God but that in Enoch’s 365 years on earth, he learned to love God and have a close relationship with him. Perhaps it was the influence of his great-great-great-great-grandfather Adam, passed down through the generations. Enoch may have grown up hearing stories about life in the Garden of Eden and about Cain, Abel, Seth, and others in Adam’s family line.

Because Enoch pleased God, he didn’t face death. The Bible doesn’t say exactly how God took Enoch. One day he was just gone because God took him.

Enoch walked with God by having a close relationship with him each day. Because of that, he pleased God. Walking with God isn’t just for those who lived in Bible times. It is important for us to walk with God today, too.

For You

There are many ways you can walk with God. You can read your Bible each day. You can pray throughout the day and include God in your problems and decisions. You can pay close attention in Sunday school and church. Can you think of more ways to walk with God?

Answer: c

It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.   Hebrews 11:5

(The Whole Story: Hebrews 11)