I Just Couldn't Wait Another Day!

"Enoch walked faithfully with God; and then he was no more because God took him away." Genesis 5:24

The first year Peter and I were dating I was "between" colleges. That means I took a year off after earning my associates degree to figure out life. He was a college freshman, 400 miles from home. That year our love survived the distance through Sunday night phone calls, love letters and gifts via snail mail, and occasional visits. As each visit approached I remember saying, "I just can't wait another day!" And when we did see each other, the reunion was sweet.

Love does that...makes you yearn to be in the company of your beloved until you just can't stand to be apart anymore and you go to them.

God loved Enoch that way; not romantically, of course, but in a way that caused God to snatch Enoch from where he stood on earth, fore go death, and bring him into His presence in heaven. Now that's the way to go!

This story of Enoch fascinates me so much that if time travel existed, I'd leap back in time to the day or so before God took Enoch. I'd study Enoch and try to figure out what he did that stole God's heart. I want to know what caused God not to wait another day to be with Enoch.

While I wait for my time machine, all I have to go on is what's written in the Bible. There's not a whole lot written about Enoch, but here's a few facts: he was the great, great, great, great grandson of Adam (Luke 3:36-38). He faithfully walked with God and this pleased God (Genesis 5:22, 24; Hebrews 11:5). He became father to Methuselah at age 65 ( Genesis 5:21) and 300 years later, (middle-aged for that time) "he was no more because God took him away" (Genesis 5:22-24). He prophesied about the second coming of Christ (Jude 1:14).

To know Enoch means it's more about reading between the lines. First, Enoch inherited faith from his fathers. Second, Enoch's faith was active. Scripture says "he...walked with God" which gives us the impression that Enoch considered God as the center of his life, his confidante, his guide; he took God everywhere he went and included Him in everything. Third, Enoch's faith was deeply rooted. He grew in his faith for 365 years. In that time, just like us, his faith must have been tested, matured, refined. Finally, Enoch knew God's heart intimately; spent time talking with Him and listening to Him. If this were not so, God would not have entrusted His words of prophesy to Enoch.

I may not escape death like Enoch but when I come face-to-face with God, may I hear "I just couldn't wait another day!" How sweet that reunion will be. (And certainly, I'll be looking for Enoch)!