Zambia Hunt

The way a person walks reveals a great deal about who they are. When someone struts down the street, we sense their pride. A sauntering gait may reveal self-centeredness, while sliding feet might indicate discouragement. An angry person stomps, a hurried soul speeds by, and a joyful heart in a young person may express itself in a skip. Like our physical walk mirrors our inner state, the same is true of our spiritual walk with God.

In Genesis 5:21-24, we encounter a remarkable man named Enoch who, it is testified of, “walked with God.” His brief story shows us what it means to walk with our Creator in a world that walks in the opposite direction.

Walking in a Wicked World

Enoch lived in what we might surprisingly call an advanced civilization. The biblical record shows they had established cities, developed musical instruments (both string and wind), and mastered metallurgy. They were innovators and creators, much like our society today. This reminds us that walking with God doesn’t require withdrawing from civilization or technological progress. Instead, like Enoch, we’re called to walk with God within our complex, advancing world.

However, Enoch’s world, despite its achievements, was also deeply sinful. The book of Jude tells us that Enoch prophesied against the ungodliness of his time – a culture marked by corrupt hearts, evil deeds, and profane speech (Jude 14-15). Sound familiar? Today’s world, with all its progress, still struggles with the same fundamental human problems.

Walking by Faith

What set Enoch apart was his faith. At age 65, something remarkable happened – he began to walk with God. This wasn’t just a casual stroll; it was a 300-year journey of faith that transformed his life. His faith wasn’t blind optimism but a settled conviction that God is both truthful and good.

This faith had three essential components that still apply to us today. First, he believed that God exists and is active in our daily lives. Second, he trusted that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Finally, his faith wasn’t just intellectual – it transformed the way he lived. As the writer of Hebrews tells us, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).

Walking to Please God

Perhaps the most striking aspect of Enoch’s story is that he “pleased God.” In a world where we often try to please everyone – our boss, our family, our social media followers – Enoch’s singular focus on pleasing God stands out. His life raises a penetrating question: Who are we trying to please?

Walking with God, as Enoch demonstrated, means making choices consistent with God’s will, even when surrounded by a society that is walking in the opposite direction. It means trusting God’s wisdom over cultural consensus and following His path even when it differs from the crowd.

The Challenge for Today

Enoch’s example challenges us to examine our own walk. Are we, like him, walking with God in the midst of our advanced but often ungodly society? Are we making choices based on faith rather than fear? Are we more concerned with pleasing God than impressing others?

The beauty of Enoch’s story is that it shows us this kind of walk is possible. We don’t have to withdraw from society to walk with God. Instead, like Enoch, we can choose to walk with Him right where we are – in our offices, our homes, our cities. This walk isn’t about perfection but about direction and determination.

Walking with God transforms us. Enoch walked so closely with God that, as Genesis tells us, “he was no more, because God took him.” While our journey may not end quite so dramatically, the principle remains: the closer we walk with God, the more we’re transformed by His presence.

In our busy, complicated world, Enoch’s simple legacy of walking with God offers us challenge and hope. The invitation to walk with God still stands – not just for a day or a year, but for a lifetime. The question is: Will we, like Enoch, choose that walk?