YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE
In his book “The Window Sill of Heaven,” J. Winston Pearce related how S. D. Gordon (author of the Quiet Talks series of books) took long walks each morning and evening. Gordon had a habit of extending one arm out from his body as he walked along. When he turned to head back to his starting point, Gordon would lower his extended arm but simultaneously extend the other arm away from his body. An individual who observed Gordon’s routine for several days finally asked the author and lecturer for an explanation. Since he probably felt that his actions should not be considered out of the ordinary, Gordon was somewhat surprised at the question. Nonetheless, he responded “I was not aware of the gesture. You see, whenever I go out for a walk, I simply extend my arm and the Master links his arm in mine. We fall in step and walk together. When I have walked the distance desired, we turn, the two of us, and the Master links his arm in mine again. I never walk alone. The Lord Jesus always walks with me.”
The words presented on a church marquee encouraged passersby with “When you walk with God, you will never walk alone.” The brief, but powerful, account of Enoch is highlighted by two important features. First, Enoch walked with God for a lifetime and second, Enoch did not die. Rather, God took him away (Genesis 5:21-24). As fascinating as the second feature is, the most important aspect of Enoch’s life is that he walked with God. As such, Enoch’s approach to life is emphasized through the two-fold statement “Enoch walked with God” (v. 22 & v. 24).
Walking with God is predicated on having a relationship with Him. Enoch and God had a friendship that made them inseparable. Perhaps the term “BFF” (best friends forever) could be applied to this relationship. Enoch’s friendship with God was a relationship predicated on faith. Enoch’s trust in God was evident in his approach to life of walking by faith rather than by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Recognizing the importance of faith in Enoch’s friendship with God, the writer of Hebrews noted that Enoch “was commended as one who pleased God (for) …without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:5c-6a).
Walking with God afforded Enoch unlimited opportunities to fellowship with God. The prophet Amos asked “Can two walk together unless they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). Two can only walk together when they are in agreement both in terms of the direction of their walk and the pace of their walk. As they walked along in harmonious fellowship, Enoch was the beneficiary of divine wisdom from God and unique experiences with God. Perhaps God and Enoch shared thoughts and ideas while also talking about the future. Enoch enjoyed God’s company and was dependent upon Him. God found Enoch’s company to be pleasing as the two friends enjoyed sweet fellowship and communion one with the other (Hebrews 11: 5c).
Accompanying his friendship and fellowship with God was Enoch’s follow-ship of God. Enoch’s pattern of walking with God was a walk of following God in faithful obedience to divine instruction (2 John 6). Our friendship and fellowship with God and our follow-ship of God can be strengthened through communicating with God in prayer (James 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:17), by celebrating with God in worship (Psalm 95:6), by meditating with God in bible study (Psalm 1:2), and by cooperating with God in service (1 Corinthians 3:9; Psalm 100:4).
Having walked with God for a lifetime, the conclusion of Enoch’s was not like others before or after him. The genealogical list presented in Genesis 5 outlines generational ancestry from Adam to Noah by providing information about father/son relationships and the lifespan of the individuals mentioned. The phrase “and he died” abruptly punctuates and concludes the description of every person…that is, every person except Enoch.
The penalty for eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17) became evident in the genealogical record. Enoch, however, did not die. Rather, “Enoch walked with God and he was no more because God took him away” (Genesis 5: 24). Of note, Noah also walked with God (Genesis 6:9) but he died (Genesis 5:31).
Enoch was a man of special distinction in terms of the manner in which he departed this earthly life. Other than Elijah who moved from his earthly sojourn to eternity in heaven riding in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11), Enoch bears the distinction of being taken to be with God without the usual and expected experience of physical death. Concerning Enoch’s end-of-life experience, the writer of Hebrews offered “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away” (Hebrews 11:5).
Both the brief “biography” of Enoch in Genesis 5 and the “Hall of Faith” presentation of Enoch in Hebrews 11 indicate that God took Enoch away. Do you ever wonder where Enoch’s family and friends thought Enoch was when he was no longer seen or present with them? I am of the conviction that they believed that Enoch was with God. After observing the manner with which Enoch walked with God daily for a lifetime (perhaps with arms extended like S.D. Gordon’s so that the Master could link arms with Enoch), those who knew Enoch recognized that nothing could separate the two close friends from each other. Thus, when Enoch was no longer seen and present with them, family and friends knew he was in a better place and they likely would respond to the question “Where’s Enoch?” in the same manner with which they had done countless times throughout his life “Don’t worry about Enoch. He is not alone. He’s still walking with God.”
Had B.B. McKinney been a contemporary with Enoch, likely Enoch would have sung hymns penned by McKinney such as “Have Faith in God” and “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go.” A less-familiar hymn written by Nelson Sosa depicts not only Enoch’s approach to life, but should also represent the daily pattern of life for every Christian. We can be reminded and encouraged with the words…
“Jesus, my Lord and Savior; Jesus, my faithful friend!
Thro’ darkest night He leads me; I put my trust in Him.
Walking along with Jesus, sharing as good friends do;
Our voices ring with laughter, No other friend so true!
Fear not the road before you, Tho’ it is still unknown.
Jesus is always with you; You will not walk alone.
Walking along with Jesus, sharing as good friends do;
Our voices ring with laughter, His love protects me as we walk unendingly.”
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness to me…one who has fallen woefully short of the relationship that you desire to have with me. May my friendship with you grow, may my fellowship with you increase, and may my follow-ship of you be multiplied daily as I walk with you. May I be reminded and encouraged by the truth “When you walk with God, you will never walk alone.” Amen!
Daniel