Today, we continue with the awareness that what we may think is not necessarily born from righteous God-thoughts. In fact, without the redeeming [rescuing/restoring] and sanctifying [making holy] work of Christ, we cannot develop our own righteous thoughts, because we have a sinful nature with a voice that demands its own way. Our thoughts are known to God, and He judges them based on Christ’s righteousness. Therefore, every human being needs the ongoing rescuing, restoring, and making holy work of Christ in us.
In our passage today, we visit the Old Testament Book of Genesis and note the Lord’s examination of humanity’s thoughts. Clearly, God is holy, and humanity is not. When left to function by our sinful nature, humanity is doomed. The fall of humanity [choosing to sin against God’s Word] left a very serious reality with eternal consequences, which broke the heart of God (Genesis 6:6).
Pay close attention to this story of Noah. Does God view Noah as righteous? Yes. Why? Because Noah lives a life of worship. He allows God’s Word to lead him. Is he perfect? No. Yet, Noah fears the Lord [honors God’s authority], seeks His way and will of living righteous [with the Lord], and wants to please Him—Priority. Noah walks WITH God (Genesis 6:9).
In the Old Testament, the Lord [Hebrew Yahweh—Creator Father, Yeshua—Saving Son, Ruach HaKodesh—Holy Spirit] pursues a relationship with humanity, but sin must be dealt with before fellowship is restored. In the New Testament, Yeshua [Greek-Jesus the Christ] fulfills that requirement. Without the work of Christ covering us with his righteousness while making us more like Him each day, we are a doomed people.
Jesus sacrificed His life to cover and redeem the sins of the world. So, when we ask Jesus to save us from sin’s destruction and death, we are saved for eternity. People need Jesus…He alone provides genuine LIFE with God! We cannot be made righteous without Him. Without Jesus, we are separated from eternal fellowship with God. Make sure you ask Jesus to save you.
Genesis 6:5-22 NLT 5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. 7 And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” 8 But Noah found favor with the Lord.
The Story of Noah
9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 10 Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!
14 “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. 15 Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Leave an 18-inch opening below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper.
17 “Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18 But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 19 Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. 20 Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. 21 And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.”
22 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.
Prayer: Father, thank You for laying out for all humanity the clear picture of our need for Jesus. We acknowledge our sinful nature and ask to be cleansed and covered by the blood of Jesus. While You cover us, Lord, please keep working in our hearts to create worshipers like Noah. Seal out the world and guard our hearts and minds. Help us live what we believe to be the Truth as Your children. Holy Spirit, make us holy and teach us to make loving and serving God our highest priority each day. Then, we can genuinely love our neighbors. In Jesus’ name. Amen.