Genesis 6:8-9 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. . .Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.
I am guilty of forgetting just how lucky I am to be a Christian not just in Springfield, but also at this time in history. In Springfield, as in most parts of America, a person cannot swing a cat without hitting a church. Megachurches, starter churches, storefront churches. If a person cannot find a place to worship in Springfield, he/she is just simply not wanting to worship.
Contrast today's Springfield to Noah's world where "every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time." Genesis 6:5 Noah had no men's group or Wednesday night Bible study. Except for Noah's family, there was no one who shared his world view. In fact, the human race had become so sinful that "the Lord regretted that He had made human beings on the earth." But even living in such a perverse, evil time, Noah remained faithful and blameless. What faith Noah must have had!
If Noah could remain true to God living in the world he inhabited, surely I can make a much better showing at living a Christian life. I work with many Christians, have a family who prays for me daily and am involved in a caring small group at church. There are simply no excuses for me to not be in close communion with God on a minute-to-minute basis. Christian growth should be a given for believers in America today.
It is also amazing that Noah remained faithful without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. His contact with God was through sacrifices and oral stories handed down through generations. He did not the scripture to read and ponder. The struggles of Daniel had not yet taken place. No David and Goliath. The joy of an Easter morning was unknown to Noah, yet he was still a "righteous man" and "walked faithfully with God." I wonder if the story of the flood has overshadowed the life of Noah in most Christians' minds. Yes, his obedience in building the ark is amazing and the organization to collect all those animals without an Excel spreadsheet is mind-boggling. But to live a Godly life in a world so off-track that God destroyed His creation, that is as amazing to me as a big boat.
May my life each day more closely parallel Noah's "faithful and blameless" walk with God.
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