In 1977, Billy Joel hit the top of the charts with his popular song, Only the Good Die Young. This idea originated in Greece, circa 445 BC. A priestess prayed to the goddess, Hera, to request a reward for her two devoted young sons who helped their mother in her time of need. She asked for the greatest gift mortals could receive. In answer to her prayer, Hera bestowed on the boys the gift of death. They fell sleep in the temple and never awoke. Do only the good die young? The story of Enoch makes a case for it.
Enoch lived in a broken world full of godlessness, hate, violence, persecution, pride, and all forms of evil. The intermarriages between the Cainites and the Sethites most likely caused the great increase of corruption in humanity. Enoch’s life has shown us it is possible to remain close in touch with God despite the most trying of circumstances. His devotion in the midst of opposition was highly pleasing to God.
Nine hundred years of genealogy are recorded in Genesis 5. Each paragraph begins with he lived, goes on to list his children, and then ends with he died. The solemn monotony of the descendants of Adam is here broken with Enoch. When we come to him, we read he walked with God, and ends not with he died, but with he was not.
Without pain, decay, or death, Enoch was removed early into the immediate presence of God. He lived only 365 years, less than half the average lifespan of a person during that age. God took him is a euphemism for an early death, suggesting that long life is not considered the highest form of blessing. It seems that God translated Enoch because he wanted to demonstrate the reality of a future state for the godly to a careless world. He wanted to awaken the hope of a life after death.
To walk with God is to please him in all things and to offend him in nothing. With special help and blessing from the Almighty, Enoch pleased God. He spent his life in the constant presence of and communion with God. In the journey of faith, what would the characteristics that make up a life of walking with God look like? It seems the first aspect of faith is to make God a constant companion and friend in order to sense that his presence is always with us. This requires us to shake ourselves free of so much of what we see in the world and focus our gaze on what is unseen. Hard to do!
The highest form of fellowship with God includes submitting to his will while not withdrawing from the domestic and ordinary duties, but enjoying his presence while performing all the business of life. Do we have any hope of achieving this when we have necessary work and significant others in our lives who need our attention?
There can be no communion with God unless there is union of our will with God’s will. We must live in conformity of will and submit our efforts to his commandments. When we are walking with God, more often than not throughout the day, we can tune our ears into the still small voice that directs us on the path of his Divine will. Enoch found it possible to do all the common things people do in secular life, and still to live in communion with God. He has set the example for us.
Death is the result of sin. Does the exceptional path of Enoch show us God’s original intention for all of humanity who had not sinned? The incident of Enoch’s translation took the thought of a future life out of speculation and established it as a fact. It showed to the ancient world, as it does to us, that the natural end to our religious life lies in union with God in eternity.
Long life, when viewed as a time for repentance from the sin which has entered the world, can be a blessing from God. It can also be a troubled burden which God shortens for his chosen. Enoch’s translation to heaven, in the presence of a sufficient number of witnesses, was an early token of the grace offered to those who choose to walk with God. The riches and power of mercy counteract the effects of sin for the penitent soul. God demonstrated that his grace triumphantly accomplishes the eternal salvation of all who return to him.
Becoming Biblical 