By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:7 ESV)
The above verse is an admonishment to New Testament believers on faith from an Old Testament example. The background for this story can be found in Genesis 6. A careful examination of that chapter reveals that maybe - just maybe - we are copping an excuse when we say, “It’s never been this bad!” There we read the following descriptions about the state of world affairs:
“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth and He was grieved in His heart.” (Gen. 6:5-6 NKJV) But then, in verse 8, we read the following statement on the heels of what is perhaps one of the most “doom and gloom” verses in the Bible: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”
In other words, Noah was walking with God when nobody else was, save his own family. Noah was arguably the most counter-culture man who ever lived. Noah was trusting God about something that had never been done before and for an event that had never happened before. How did this man pull it off? How did he stand against the ferocious vortex that is the “world?” How can we?
Consider Genesis 6:9: “These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” Oh, the depth and simplicity of God’s word! How did Noah hear God’s warning about coming destruction when absolutely no one else did? Noah walked with God! Have you ever tried walking with someone when you are simultaneously doing something to make them angry? How did that work out for you?
Here is the application I derive from this passage: The darker the world and our society get, the brighter we as believers should shine IF we are “walking with God” like Noah was. But no one wants to walk alongside someone who must continuously admonish them for their dark “spots” that must be driven out. Can you, as a professing believer, really walk with a holy God and tolerate sin in your life? Can you stand against the wicked culture? How “Noahic” are you?
Blessings, Dan
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