Old Testament, only Enoch and Elijah stand out as having "walked with God" so closely that they didn’t die the usual way—God took them instead. Out of all the figures across thousands of years—Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and countless others—just these two get that distinction. It’s a tiny fraction, showing how exceptional it is to live in such perfect alignment with God using only human effort and the ability He gave us at creation.
The Need for a Savior
That rarity points to what you’re saying: humans, even with the capacity for good (the Yetzer Hatov), struggle to overcome their flaws (the Yetzer Hara). The Old Testament is full of people trying—some doing better than others—but falling short:
Romans 3:23 (New Testament, but reflecting on all history): "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Even greats like Moses (who disobeyed God at Meribah, Numbers 20:12) or David (with Bathsheba, 2 Samuel 11) couldn’t maintain that Enoch-or-Elijah-level righteousness.
This is where Jesus comes in as the "Saver" (Savior). Christians see Him as bridging the gap—perfectly walking with God as a human, yet also divine, offering a way for everyone else who can’t hit that mark on their own. Enoch and Elijah are exceptions; Jesus is the solution for the rule.
We Can Still Try
It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try! The ability to do good is still there, baked into us from creation, and those Old Testament calls to "choose life" or "do good" still stand. Enoch and Elijah prove it’s possible to walk closely with God, even if it’s rare and hard:
Micah 6:8: "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." It’s a goal we can aim for, even if we stumble.
Their stories inspire effort, not defeat. We may not get whisked away in a chariot, but striving to align with God’s will keeps that divine image alive in us.
Tying It to Jesus
Jesus, in this view, doesn’t just save us from failure—He empowers the trying. Christians believe His life, death, and resurrection make it possible to keep pursuing that "walk with God," with help (like the Holy Spirit) that Enoch and Elijah didn’t have spelled out in their stories. So, while only two pulled it off solo in history, the invitation’s now wider.
We need Jesus because perfection’s nearly impossible, but we shouldn’t give up striving. That’s a powerful take—balancing human limits with hope and effort.