"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. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:5-6

In this third entry in the Hall of Faith, we meet a little-known believer whose life has become an example of one of the great truths of our faith. This man is Enoch.

Genesis 4:17 tells us that Enoch was the first son born to Cain after Cain murdered Abel. How did the son of a murderer make it into the Bible's Hall of Faith? It wasn't because Enoch was without sin. Enoch is here, however, because his faith sets an example for all of us and has something to teach us.

Very little is known of Enoch. But the writer of Hebrews alludes to a cryptic statement in Genesis 5:24 which reports: "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." Although we know nothing specific about his life, Enoch is remembered as one of the very small handful of believers who entered a blessed eternity without first tasting the bitter cup of death.

But what does this have to do with faith? Enoch walked with God, as Genesis tells us. In other words, Enoch had such a strong faith that it was obvious to others. His faith showed by his works. Every day of his life, Enoch was conscious of the fact that he was a child of God, and he walked or lived in such a way that it showed.

What made Enoch's life so pleasing to God that God would commend his faith and even spare him the painful experience of death? Not Enoch's works themselves but the faithful spirit in which he did those works.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, the writer of Hebrews tells us. Any human work, no matter how noble and selfless it may appear to the world, is filthy and worthless to God when it is not done by a believer. Only those people can truly please God who trust in him and in his promises--particularly the promise of forgiveness of sins and eternal life through the Savior whom he sent.

Faith is what makes the difference between the works of a Christian and the works of a non-Christian. Faith makes otherwise detestable works beautiful and pleasing to our heavenly Father. Which would you rather hang on a bulletin board at home--a vibrant Michelangelo painting or a messy, smudged finger painting by a child? No contest--the finger paint. Why would you be happier with a messy work of art than with the work of a master? If it was YOUR child's painting, you'd understand. God our Father looks at our works that way. Even though the works are not intrinsically pleasing and may be not even valuable in the eyes of the world, our good works do please God because the people who do them are his children--people whose hearts have been renewed and have become his dwelling places through the gospel.

Isn't that amazing? Our holy and righteous God is actually pleased with our works! He is pleased with them because we who do them are covered in Jesus' perfect righteousness. All the flaws and faults that sin has put into our works have been smoothed out by the Savior's blood. Therefore, our holy God commended Enoch's works just as he commends our works. So as we strive to do what pleases God--and as we fall short of perfection every day--God delights in our works and finds them pleasing for Jesus' sake. What an inspiration Enoch's example is for all of us to walk with God day by day.