Faith is one of those words that’s easy to say but hard to live. The Bible makes it clear that faith isn’t optional—it’s essential. Ephesians 2:8 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” Salvation itself is impossible without it. And Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
Faith is more than a belief; it’s the posture of a life. To know God, to please Him, and to walk with Him requires faith. And perhaps no biblical figure embodies this better than a man most people rarely talk about: Enoch.
Enoch: The Man Who Walked with God
Genesis 5:22 says simply, “Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters.” Hebrews 11:5 adds that “before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.”
What’s striking is that while most of Genesis 5 reads like an obituary—“he lived…and he died”—Enoch’s story is different. Adam lived 930 years, Seth lived 912, Methuselah lived 969, Noah lived 950—and each of them died. But Enoch? He “was not, for God took him.” He didn’t experience death in the normal way. Instead, God translated him into His presence.
Why? Because Enoch walked with God.
What Does It Mean to Walk with God?
When the Bible says Enoch “walked” with God, it’s not describing a casual stroll. The Hebrew word suggests a steady, ongoing journey—many steps taken in rhythm with God over a long time. It’s a picture of a consistent, faithful life aligned with the will of God.
Walking with God means:
Dependence on God, not self. Enoch’s faith wasn’t in his good deeds, rituals, or reputation. It was in God Himself.
A daily journey. This wasn’t a single event but a lifetime of steps taken one after another.
Consistency through seasons. Genesis notes that Enoch began his walk with God after the birth of his son Methuselah. For many, a “Methuselah moment”—a major life event like the birth of a child, a crisis, or a personal loss—becomes a turning point that redefines priorities.
Why Did People Live So Long Before the Flood?
Enoch lived 365 years, but many of his contemporaries lived much longer. Some biblical scholars suggest that before the flood the earth may have been shielded by a canopy of water vapor that limited harmful solar radiation and slowed aging. Others propose that God extended lifespans to allow the earth’s population to grow rapidly. After the flood, lifespans shortened dramatically—possibly as part of God’s judgment on human wickedness or simply by His design.
Whatever the reason, the contrast highlights Enoch’s uniqueness: he didn’t just live long; he lived faithfully.
Enoch, Elijah, and the Witnesses to Come
Enoch’s story pairs with that of Elijah, another man who didn’t experience death in the usual way but was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). Some theologians wonder if these two men are the “two witnesses” described in Revelation 11 who will return during the tribulation to proclaim God’s message, face death, and be raised again.
Whether or not that’s the case, their lives remind us that God honors those who walk with Him in faith.
The Power of a Long Walk
Enoch’s faith wasn’t a sprint. It lasted 300 years. He walked with God through good days and bad, through joy and hardship, through routine and trial. Faith isn’t proved in a moment but in a lifetime of steady steps.
It’s easy to make bold declarations—to “stand” for something publicly. But Scripture celebrates not Enoch’s stand, but his walk. Faith that pleases God isn’t about dramatic moments; it’s about ordinary faithfulness lived out day after day.
Bringing It Home
Enoch’s story poses a question to each of us: Are we walking with God, or just walking with ourselves? For some, a “Methuselah moment” has already shaken up life and opened the door to deeper faith. For others, the call is simply to start walking—one step at a time—in trust, obedience, and consistency.
Faith saves us. Faith pleases God. And faith sustains the long walk of life.
Like Enoch, may we be remembered as people who walked with God.
