Sermons from the Book of Genesis
THE FIRST MR. SKYWALKER
Genesis 5:21-24
A few years ago there came out a trilogy of Star Wars movies. The movies centered on a man named Luke Skywalker. 2. But I want to remind you that long before there was ever a Luke Skywalker, there was Enoch Skywalker. Before Luke Skywalker ever dreamed of sailing past the stars and planets and visiting far off worlds, Enoch walked with God and one day took a trip past the moon and stars right into the very presence of God.
Genesis chapter 5 is one of those chapters in the Bible that we often read through hastily, if not skip altogether. It is one of the genealogy chapters of the Bible. It starts with Adam and ends with Noah and his sons, a total of 11 generations. As you read the chapter, one hears the death bell tolling. Reading through the chapter is almost like walking through a morgue. We read time and time again "and he died." The chapter reminds us over and over again that, "It is appointed unto man once to die" (Cp. Heb. 9:27). We read in verse 5 that Adam lived 930 years, but none-the-less he died. In verse 11, we read that Seth lived 912 years, yet he died. In verse 11, we read that all the days of Enos was 905 years. Yet there was a day he died.
George Bernard Shaw wryly wrote: "The statistics on death are quite impressive: One out of every one die."
We read name after name and then the words "and he died." But there is one exception in the chapter. That is Enoch. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:5 "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death." He was the first Mr. Skywalker. Let's consider this man Enoch and learn a few things about him.
First, think with me of:
1. THE TESTIMONY OF ENOCH
We read in Hebrews 11:5 "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." More is said about Enoch in New Testament than in the Old Testament. He is described in 51 words in the Old and in 94 words in the New. One of the things the New Testament highlights about his life is his testimony. He had the testimony that he pleased God. Genesis 5 tells us how he pleased God. We read twice in verses 22 and 24 that Enoch walked with God. You could say that his only claim to fame was that he walked with God. We never read about him parting a sea, raising the dead, healing the sick, or leading an army. His entire life is summed up in the words, "He walked with God."
There is nothing greater that could be said about us than that we walked with God. When we are gone, people could say, "He went to the moon, he ran a large company, he was a wealthiest man that ever lived, or that he was president of the United States." But I say unto you the greatest thing that could be said of us is that you or I walked with God. The greatest thing a child could say about his father is that dad walks with God. The greatest thing a church could say about a member is that he/she walks with God. The greatest thing the people you work with could ever say about you is that you live for God.
Someone has said, "Civilized man has learned how to fly, but he has lost the art of walking with God." This was not the case with Enoch. Notice 2 things about his walk with God. First, we see:
A. The Direction of His Walk with God.
Notice carefully that it is said that, "Enoch walked with God." It did not say that God walked with Enoch. It is Enoch walking with God. The ideal is that Enoch was going in the direction that God was going. It was not God going in Enoch's direction, but Enoch in God's direction. To walk with God means that we are going the way God is going. When a person says they want to walk with God they are saying that they want to go where God is going and do what God is doing.
I remind you that God always goes to Church on Sunday. He even goes to Church on Sunday night, Wednesday night, and every special service. A person cannot say that they are walking with God and never read their Bibles, pray, witness, and give. A person that rarely comes to church or miss on a regular basis, cannot say they are walking with God. To walk with God is to go where He is going and do what He is doing.
We read in Colossians 2:6, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." Also in Micah 6:8 we read, "He hath shewed thee, 0 man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
Secondly, we see:
B. The Duration of His Walk with God.
Notice Genesis 5:22, "And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters." Enoch walked with God for 300 years. Think about that! For 109,500 days, Enoch walked with God. It is not unusual to hear of someone that walked with God for a few years and then backed off and backed out. What a blessing to hear and know of someone that has walked with God for years.
The song writer said:
When we walk with the Lord,
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with those who will trust and obey.
Also, think with me of:
2. THE TRANSFORMATION OF ENOCH
Notice Genesis 5:21-22, "And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters." If you will notice carefully, for 65 years of Enoch's life it would seem that Enoch did not walk with God. Verse 22 says that Enoch walked with God after his son Methuselah was born. It is possible that Enoch was not saved until age 65. It is possible that Enoch was like so many Christians that never take their Christian life seriously for much of their life. But after he begat Methuselah, he began walking with God. It seems that it was the birth of a baby boy that changed his life. His life was transformed by a baby.
What was it about this baby boy that brought him to the place where he walked with God? First, it is possible that in the birth of his son he:
A. Realized His Parental Responsibility
One day Enoch held a little baby boy in his arms and he realized the responsibility he had as a father. He looked at that little boy and realized that he would need a godly example and a good influence. He realized that one day his little boy would go to heaven or hell and the way he lived would largely determine which one. For 65 years he had lived his own life. He had basically no one but himself to worry about. But now he had a son, and what that son would become and would believe had much to do with what he saw in his dad.
I have seen many a young couple that took the things of God lightly. But then God blessed them with a child. I've seen that couple get in church, become faithful and take the things of God seriously. Why? They realized the importance of how they lived and the impact it would have on their child.
T.T. Judd wrote a powerful little poem entitled "In Daddy's Steps."
There are little eyes upon, and they are watching night and day;
There are little ears that quickly take in every word you say;
There are little hands all eager to do everything you do.
And a little boy who's dreaming of the day when he'll be like you.
You're the little fellow's idol; you're the wisest of the wise.
In his little mind about you, no suspicions ever rise;
He believes in you devoutly, holds that all you say and do,
He will say and do in your way when he's grown up to be like you.
There's a wide-eyed little fellow who believes you're always right,
And his ears are always open, and he watches day and night;
You are setting an example everyday in all you do.
For the little boy who's waiting to grow up to be like you.
Several years ago there was an article in U.S. News and World Report entitled, "Delinquency Starts in Homes like These." In that article it was reported that studies of delinquency conducted at Harvard University showed that 6 out every 10 juvenile delinquents had fathers who drink to excess. Many have mothers who drink to excess. 3 out 4 were permitted by parents to come and go as they please. 3 out of 5 were from homes where there was great discord between parents. 7 out of 10 were from homes where there was no group or family recreation. 4 out of 5 had parents who took no interest in the children's friends. 4 out of 5 delinquent boys said their mothers were indifferent to them. 3 out of 5 boys said their fathers were indifferent to them. Many of them came from broken homes and few got religious training of any kind.
If you don't live for God as a father and mother, don't be surprised if your children don't live for God. If you don't come to church half the time don't be surprised if your children won't go to church. If you don't take God seriously, don't be surprised if your children take God lightly.
A preacher was talking to a group of kids in a Sunday School Class. He was asking them question, "Why do you love God?" The best answer he got was from a young girl that said, "I don't know why I love God, preacher. I guess it just runs in my family."
Furthermore, in the birth of his son he:
B. Received A Prophetic Revelation.
The name of his baby boy was Methuselah. Today we pick names because they are popular, we like them, or family name-sake. But in the Bible, names always had meaning and they sometimes had a prophetic message. The name Methuselah means "When he is dead it shall be sent or it shall come." How would you like to have a name like that? What was the name meaning? What was going to come when he died? The message in the name of Enoch's boy was concerning the flood. God was saying to Enoch as well to everyone else that when Methuselah died, the flood of God's judgment would come.
Let's do a little math and let me show you what I am talking about. Genesis 5:25 says, "And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech." At the age of 187 Methuselah became the father of Lamech. We read in Genesis 5:28-29, "And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: And he called his name Noah." Lamech was 182 when his son, Noah was born. If you add 187 and 182 you get 369. Methuselah was 369 when Noah was born. We read in Genesis 7:11, "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened." The flood came when Noah was 600 years old. Now if you add 369 and 600 you get 969. We read in Genesis 5:27, "And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died." Methuselah was 969 years old when he died. He died the same year the flood came. Or to put it another way, the flood came when Methuselah died.
I believe that the very moment Methuselah drew his last breath, the rain began to fall. When he died, it came. I find it interesting that the oldest man who ever lived was Methuselah. Do you think that is a coincidence? Absolutely not! Everyday Methuselah lived was another opportunity for man to get right with God. Methuselah lived longer than any man because God was merciful and long-suffering not willing that any should perish.
Enoch received in his son a message from God. Judgment was coming. I believe that each time that boy sneezed, Enoch’s heart stopped. Each time he had a fever, Enoch thought this may be is the time.
We read in Jude 1:14, "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints." Enoch realized the Lord was coming. He realized that he needed to walk with God.
Why should we walk with God? One day Jesus is coming and we will come face to face with our Creator, our God, and our Lord and Savior. I personally believe the only reason Jesus hasn't already come back is because He is long-suffering and not willing that any should perish. These truths ought to transform our life as they did the life of Enoch.
Lastly, think with me of:
3. THE TRANSLATION OF ENOCH
Notice Genesis 5:23-24, "And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." Also we read in Hebrews 11:5, "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." After day after day, month after month, year after year, century after century of walking with God, one day Enoch was translated. What does this translation mean?
First, it means that:
A. He Was Caught Away
Genesis says simply that "he was not." We have our astronauts, but Enoch was an "was not." One day he was walking along and suddenly he was not. He was snatched out, caught away, raptured if you please. G. Campbell Morgan says that Enoch and God spent the day walking together and toward the end of the day, God said to Enoch, "You are closer to my house than yours, so come on up."