Can the birth of a child change a person?

After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch
walked faithfully with God 200 years and had other
sons and daughters. Genesis 5:22

Can the birth of a child change a person? Cause a young parent to face realities he or she previously avoided, ignored or overlooked? Could it be the growing up experience of all growing up experiences?

Many years ago Pastor Lee Roberson was preparing to baptize a young man. The man stopped Roberson and asked, “Would you like to know why I became a Christian?”

Roberson said, “Go ahead and tell me.”

The young man said, “I am a new father. I want my child to be raised in a Christian home.” I submit to you that reason is as good a reason as any to get saved…born again!

Wonder if the same experience happened to Enoch? Something unusual is said about Enoch that has led many to answer this question with an emphatic, “Yes!” Notice the wording, “AFTER he became a father Enoch walked with God.” The identical idea is expressed in most every translation. “After the child’s birth Enoch walked with God” leaves us with the impression the walk with God did not begin prior to the birth of Methuselah.

J. Vernon McGee writes about Enoch’s earlier life, “It may have been a careless life. It could have been a life that was lived in indifference, or perhaps in open sin. One day he went into the nursery and looked down into the crib at that little fellow who was kicking and gooing. When Enoch looked down at that little baby he recognized his responsibility and it changed his life. He started to walk with God. My friend, if the presence of a baby in the home won’t change your lifestyle then nothing will.”

Ah, sometimes it takes life, even the life of an infant, to teach us the meaning of life!

Tom Swartzwelder was born again at the age of nine in an old-fashioned revival meeting. Tom received his B.A. from Tennessee Temple University and his M. Div from Luther Rice Seminary. He has pastored for nearly forty years in both bi-vocational and full-time roles. He provides practical how-to-do-ministry resources for the disciples of Jesus Christ at http://www.godsgreenhouse.net. Tom’s latest book is “God Speaks–Today!”