“Just a Closer Walk with Thee”
Noah’s world was evil. Sounds much like todays world. So I think there is much to learn from Genesis 6.
1. The Earth was corrupt – v.11
This is interesting to me. In Genesis 1, God created the earth and saw it “Good”. But in Genesis 6 it is corrupt. Why? Sin, Remember that God cursed the ground. So with a fallen world that continues in sin and works a cursed ground, it produces manipulation of the earth or no regard. It had been corrupted. Now I’m no “tree hugger”, but I do think we have a responsibility to take care of “mother earth”. This place is a gift from God.
2. The Earth was filled with violence – v.11
Obviously sin hurts, damages, steals, and kills. So look at the imagery of John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” That was exactly what was going on.
3. It was continually getting worse – v.13
God had had enough. He had determined to end this madness – v.13. How was God going to do it?
God was going to bring judgement. Not just any judgement. Death to All, through a flood, except 1 family. That would be the family of Noah. We learn a lot about Noah.
1. Noah was Righteous – v.9
Righteous means “conformity to expectations” or “justifiable, morally right, very good.” So, when we walk with The Lord, we walk in righteousness.
2. Noah was Blameless – v.9
Blameless means “innocent of wrongdoing”. Noah didn’t go along with the flow. He was his own man. Desiring to be who God had called him to be, not who the world was.
3. Noah Walked with God. – v.9
You can only be “righteous” and “blameless” when you walk with God. The closer you walk with God, the more you hear from God. I can attest to this. Now we must understand the New Testament implications to what righteousness is and who righteousness comes from.
Romans 3:21-26, “21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’srighteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and thejustifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
So my only way at righteousness is to surrender to the one that can make me right, Jesus. I can’t do it. My only way to be blameless is to walk in surrender to this Jesus. There is absolutely nothing good in me, except for Jesus.
We need men who are willing, like Noah, to walk with God. We need daddy’s who are willing to surrender ALL for the sake of themselves and their families survival, eternally. We need families sold out together for King Jesus in the face of a fallen world. Not only that but we need men that hear from God.
4. Noah heard, listened, and did – v.22
God was going to spare Noah and His family because he found “Favor” with him. I would suggest that breaking the “Sin Cycle” would be exactly what Noah did. Instead of See-Desire-Take, Noah Heard-Listened-Did.
Now Noah probably had a WHAT moment when God told him that He wanted him to build an ARK from Gopher wood – SAY WHAT? Yeah, not only that but here are the dimensions. WHAT? A football field and a half? Yep, it’s got to be big enough to house 2 of every animal (kind) and enough food for you and the animals to make it a few hundred days.
It is in that “Closer Walk With Thee” that we can receive clarity. If that was you and I on a whim walk with God we probably would have went, Pah, it must have been my lunch speaking. But, when we are walking with the Lord, closely, I promise he speaks with clarity. You may and probably will have to pray through it, but it will become clear. His plan is to help you, not to harm you. And this was how He was going to help Noah, his family, and his continued creation.
Noah did what was asked of Him. For about 75+ years Noah and his family worked and built this Ark. Remaining faithful, working tirelessly, persevering through obstacles and peoples, enduring to the end. It all happened because he (Noah) had “A Closer Walk” with The God.
I’m going to encourage you once again to head on up to Williamstown and Petersburg Kentucky. Take your family. It will open your eyes up to the truth of God’s Word and the truth of this flood. It’s a vacation that you will never forget.
So today I want to encourage you to walk closer to God than you ever have before.
Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”
Bro. J
Bro. J's Blog 