The Very Short Resume that Stole God’s Heart

Posted on by Jennifer Arimborgo

“Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him” (Gen. 5:23-24, NLT).

2018 rapidly approaches, and with it, a whole new set of challenges. How do you like to bring in the new year? Do you usually make New Year’s resolutions?

As I was in prayer today, I was searching the Lord’s heart about how to best please Him. I want to know what is on His heart – not only for the next twelve months He is giving me to live, but throughout the whole of my time here on earth.

In answer to my searching, He gently directed my attention to Enoch. In all of the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith (and for that matter, in all of the Bible), Enoch is the only individual I know of who received this commendation: “He was known as a person who pleased God” (Heb 11:5, NLT). This is not to say that no one else in the Scriptures pleased God. On the contrary, everyone listed in Hebrews 11, by implication, did so. Each one lived out a life of remarkable faith, and “without faith it is impossible to please God” (v. 6). So, clearly, each and every one of them were God-pleasers.

But Enoch was the only one who got that special mention. He pleased God. Very distinctively so.

What, we may ask, did Enoch do that was so pleasing to God? Well, in combing through the entire Bible, there are only three details to be found about his 365 years on earth:

  • He had some kids.
  • He gave a brief prophesy about the coming of the Lord (Jude 14).
  • He walked with God.

Hmm. Not exactly an impressive resume, by any human standards. Can you imagine an aspiring pastor interviewing for a position, stating those three things as his qualifications? “I think I would do an outstanding job pastoring your church because I sired some children and I once gave a prophecy. And I walk with God.” Blank stares and awkward coughs would be his only response!

And yet, Enoch is the only one who went down in God’s breathtaking Record as specifically having pleased Him! Why? Because he walked with Him. Very intentionally, God left out all other pertinent information about the man’s life. He did so because He wants us to understand what ravishes His heart. (Hint: it’s not visibly impressive achievements.) It’s a lifestyle of intimate communion with Him.

I want to be like Enoch. I want to journey through this life hand in hand with God. I want to lean continuously into my Beloved. I want to steal His heart so much with my love that He is tempted to take me away too. I yearn to walk in unspeakably close fellowship with Him. Tears run down my cheeks as I express this longing to Him.

Hand in hand

So, dear friend, as January 1st rolls around and we find 2018 upon us, remember this. In God’s book, it’s not so much about what you do for the next fifty-two weeks. No, the most essential thing to occur as the coming year unfolds, will not be the further addition of accolades to your resume. It won’t even be what you accomplish for God and for His Kingdom. No, precious one. May our highest aim in the New Year – our Number One Resolution – be to walk in closer intimacy with Him than we have ever experienced before!