Our Family Tree

 A Series on Living by Faith
Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5-6
(Use the link below to read the verses.)

 [Hebrews 11 is a recounting of the Heroes of the Faith. Even though they never saw what they had been promised, each person is commended for living “by faith”. At the end of these commendations, Hebrews 12 tells us, “Therefore, because you are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… throw off sin; run with perseverance; fix your eyes on Jesus”. In other words, live “by faith”.]

 

In the early 80’s, I spent many hours researching my family genealogy. This was before the Internet and Ancenstory.com, so it took some leg work. It wasn’t just a matter of point and click. I interviewed my parents, brother and sisters, aunts and uncles and cousins. I wrote letters; visited the state library; and made phone calls.

 

By the time I was done, I had collected information about several generations. All the names and dates of my ancestors were recorded in a book called “Our Family Tree”. Unfortunately, there was very little in the way of family stories passed down from generation to generation. That would seem to be the case for Enoch also.

 

Enoch first appears in the genealogy of Adam. It’s not the most exciting passage since they all go something like this: “Adam begat a son named Seth… and Adam lived another 800 years”. For nine generations it repeats the same exact message, except for Enoch. His eulogy reads like this.

 

 ²² After he (Enoch) became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.      Genesis 5 NIV

 

Only Enoch was different. He didn’t just live, but he “walked faithfully with God” for the rest of his life. And what does it mean to walk faithfully with the Lord? James gives us some insight into that question.

 

²² But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves… ²⁵ But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.            James 1 NLT

 

Enoch did just that! He listened and obeyed; and for that, he was rewarded unlike any other.

 

 ⁵ By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.     Hebrews 11 NIV

 

What will my eulogy be? That I had a daughter named Tara and lived another 50 years? Or that I walked faithfully with the Lord? What will your eulogy be?