(Below are Nicole's thoughts on Chapter 1 of Twelve Unlikely Heroes by John MacArthur. Please know that we what all "learn" from a study may be different. Therefore, we ask for you all to share your thoughts and feeling on this chapter as well.)
Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. - Genesis 5:24
This week, we are introduced to our first hero, Enoch. Why is Enoch an unlikely hero in the Bible? What characteristics did he have to make him a hero? What can we learn from Enoch to implement into our own lives?
Here are the main points that John MacArthur wrote which touched me the most in Chapter 1. (Please note that these are only a few of the amazing thought provoking points that the author has made. Therefore it is important for you to read the entire chapter. What is listed below are the statements that made me think the most. I'm sure that someone else was touched by things I did not mention. I encourage you to share in the comments section below this post.)
* Enoch is rightly regarded as a hero for the same reason: he stood strong over a long period of time. (p.2)
* Even in the midst of a corrupt and perverse civilization (one so wicked the Lord determined to destroy it in the Flood), Enoch refused to compromise. At time, he undoubtedly felt alone-as if the entire world were against him. Yet he remained true to the Lord. (p. 3)
* Though Enoch's experiences were remarkable and unique, he still sets a compelling example for us to follow: one of unwavering faith and uncompromising obedience. (p. 4)
* ...he stood against the corruption of his culture and walked with God for three centuries. (p. 5)
* Even so, he was able to demonstrate enduring righteousness-not because he was sinless but because he drew on divine resources. (p. 6)
* Thus, Enoch's righteous walk should not intimidate us. Rather, as a witness to the life of faith (Hebrews 12:1), his example ought to motivate us to greater faithfulness and deeper resolve in our own walk with the Lord. (p. 6)
* Scripture, where this theme is reiterated and expanded, reveals that walking with God includes at least three component parts. It begins with forgiveness from sin, consists of faith in the Lord, and results in fruits of righteousness. (p. 8)
* During his life, Enoch was characterized by intimate fellowship with God, personal integrity, and faithful preaching. But it is his dramatic, death-free exit that sets Enoch apart. (p. 18)
* In the midst of a wicked generation, Enoch fellowshipped with God constantly. For three centuries, he resisted the world's corruption, sought the Lord diligently, and lived in obedience to Him. (p. 19)
* In the end, God honored Enoch to show His pleasure with such faithful virtue. (p. 19)
Enoch lived a very God-pleasing life. How did he stay faithful and committed to God in a world that was falling apart? He walked with God. He constantly turned to God with everything in his life. We can still do the same thing in today's world. A world filled with confusion, corruption, anger, and worry. We can live our lives like Enoch did by walking with God.
I'm sure you have days like I do. You know, the ones were "autism" is at it's peak in your home. The days when you felt like everything was getting so much better and in a blink of an eye, it all comes crashing down. You feel overwhelmed. You feel hopeless. You feel alone. It's in these moments that we have to turn to God. We have to "walk with God". We must have faith in God. I think that's the one thing that I learned about Enoch that touched me the most. No matter what was going on around him he trusted in God. The only way we can do this is if we are constantly walking with Him. Praying, talking to Him, reading His Word. He is there with us and will help us through it all. We just have to seek Him.
So, in the moments when you don't know what to do, you feel overwhelmed or completely alone, just stop what you are doing and find God. Pray to Him and give Him your struggles and let Him comfort you and show you what to do next. It's amazing what happens when you walk with God and have faith in Him.
John MacArthur writes on page 19:
As with all heroes of the faith listed in Hebrews 11, Enoch's life is notable not because of what he did, but because of how God's glory and greatness were displayed through him.
We can all live a life like Enoch's...one where God's glory and greatness shines through us.
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