Heb.11:5,6 – By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Faith became a huge emphasis in many Christian circles several years ago but just like many other doctrines some got in a ditch over emphasizing what they called faith. When we try to reason biblical truth with our revelation we get in the way and get off track from the simplicity of the gospel. To understand faith we must realize that faith originates with God and is received as a gift by us. Faith is what happens when the Lord awakens us and the spiritual world becomes real to us. In today’s verse we see that faith brings us to the ultimate reward, walking with God like Enoch did. Here is how Jonathan Edwards explains this.
“The Apostle refers to that testimony which the Scripture gives of Enoch, that he “walked with God” [Genesis 5:22], which expression implies friendship, and friendly intercourse, and mutual complacence. For how can two walk together, except they be agreed? And therefore the Apostle might well say, that “he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” And he most properly observes that there is no pleasing God in this sense, no maintaining friendship and mutually complacential intercourse, without believing that God is, and without believing “that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him,” in the sense explained in my distinct note on Hebrews 11:6. When the Apostle says, “he that cometh to God,” he may be well understood to mean, “he that comes to him to walk with him.” He unites himself to him in friendly complacential union and intercourse.”
The author of Hebrews uses Enoch as an example of walking in faith to illustrate what he has been teaching all along. We have access back into the presence of God by faith in the blood of Jesus. Just as Enoch walked with God by faith you and I have been given that kind of access through the death, resurrection, and the glorification of Jesus. Because he has been glorified the Holy Spirit is poured out on all who believe. This is what faith is all about, knowing Him intimately and walking with Him. Sure, He gives us physical blessings, but they all are as nothing in comparison to knowing Him.
