Hebrews 11:5-6 Faith is living life well pleasing to God

Hebrews 11:5-6

Background

Enoch lived a life well pleasing to God – that is faith. In today’s text, we see a lesser-known man, yet much favored by God. God saw his faith and rewarded him by translating him into heaven. Enoch’s life shows us that we do not have to be well known to be in God’s list of highly favored. If we will discipline ourselves to live life well pleasing to God, He will likewise reward us in a most unusual way.

Observation

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

Here is another man who was so favored by God that he did not experience death. The Greek form of “taken up” is metatithemi, which means being conveyed from one place to another or a change in state or condition. Genesis 5:24 says, “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Another translation condenses the text: “Enoch pleased the Lord and was translated.” Enoch was transformed and taken up from the earth into the presence of God. Not much more has been recorded about Enoch except that he was also a prophet of righteousness. Jude 1:14-15 records his prophecy of God’s judgment over the ungodly.

Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

One cannot help but notice the distinctive of Enoch’s faith which is his uncompromising allegiance to the truth and his righteous anger against all ungodliness. The decisive factor that granted Enoch the experience of translation (being taken up) was his faith. His desire to live life well pleasing to God was unmistakably Enoch’s brand of faith.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists (He is who He is) and that he rewards those who seek him.

The emphasis is not in Enoch’s translation but in his faith of living life well pleasing to God. Without faith, it is impossible to please God and to be favored by Him. The life that pleases God begins with the recognition of God’s supreme position and His righteous character: for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists (He is who He is). And He establishes an intimate bond with those who earnestly seek Him. One can conclude that Enoch’s translation is the kind of reward befitting one who is not drawn to anything earthly.

Truth

You don’t have to be well known or gifted in order to be in God’s list of highly favored. Enoch was not as well known as the other prophets of Israel. In fact, very little has been recorded concerning him; no great titles and no great exploits. Yet, he was chosen to experience supernatural translation and did not taste death. The other two men who were translated into heaven were Elijah and Jesus. Many suppose fame and fortune serve as marks of God’s favor. If a person is popular and capable, then God must have favored him. But in the case of Enoch, he was not prominent as Moses or David was and was somewhat low profile. Yet God set His favor upon this ordinary man and translated him. God gave Enoch an unexpected reward, and God can do the same for you if you would take Enoch as your wholesome example.

Faith is not transferrable; you cannot get another person to exercise faith on your behalf. Many churchgoers came asking me to pray for them. When asked whether they prayed for themselves, they shook their heads and said they did not have enough faith; they supposed that faith can be subcontracted to others. Yet some do not find the need to grow in their faith thinking that God has granted them perfect favor through Jesus. However, God favors those who display faith by living life well pleasing to God: without faith it is impossible to please him… he rewards those who seek him. Faith is not confidence, it is a conviction and a lifestyle. Therefore, God evaluates a person’s faith level and blesses him accordingly. Even as Jesus serves as priest and paved the way towards our reconciliation with God. It remains for us to take the journey of faith towards God; a journey no one else can take except us. Therefore, we must take responsibility for our own faith by disciplining ourselves to live life well pleasing to Him. In so doing, we will increase in favor before God and men and prosper in all our endeavors.

Application

1. Do you sometimes envy those who seem more accomplished than you? God can do the same for you as he did for them if not more. If you will commit yourself to please God and live life one day at a time, He will reward you in the most supernatural and unusual way.
2. Do you harbor the thought that since Jesus has done “everything” for you; there is no more need to do anything for yourself? Christ indeed paved the way towards God, but it remains for us to walk that path ourselves by knowing the truth and living it. Christ is to us the priest who leads us and strengthens us by the Spirit. In Christ, we have immediate access to divine wisdom, peace, and power to tread on the narrow path.

Dear Lord, I desire to live life well pleasing to you. I want to be in your list of highly favored. Strengthen my resolve to walk on the path of faith and cause me fulfill my commission. Reward me and bless me according to your grace and glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.