I look from the vantage point of history and see the downward trend continue. As the years and generations pass, there is a deterioration of moral and spiritual integrity. The increase of the population seemed to reflect the lack of interest of all humanity in the interests of God. The distinction between the descendants of Cain and those of Seth was blurred. The Spirit of God had then, the same as now, the work of convicting people of sin, righteousness and judgment to come. His striving continued but now came with a warning: “You have 120 years to repent.”
Every form of wickedness men had devised, continued. People were thinking up new ways to live depraved lives. There was moral corruption that God could see; there was violence wherever one turned; the course of humanity if left unchecked would be gone so far there would be no hope of recovery – and God could see it all.
The sorrow God had because of what mankind had done to itself, was real, Men had chosen sin and death instead of fellowship and life with God.
However, there was one man God showed His grace toward. Noah wasn’t a perfect man, but he did love and obey God. He was just and fair. He was a man who could not be blamed like others, because he obeyed God. As a man of faith, he got right at the work of building the ark, the work God called him to in spite of the wickedness of the times.
From where I stand in this unfolding saga of human experience, I see history repeating itself. People have gone back to the same practices of trying out new sins; walking in the evil desires of their depraved nature, and are not satisfied until they can find some new sin to indulge themselves in. One person’s experiment in sin challenges others to try and go farther.
But for some reason people today think they are not going to be found out. To convince themselves that sin is only what they say is sin, and God is only what they say is God – the human race is going deeper and faster into a moral mudslide from which there is no escape. They consider God’s truth only fables, God’s warnings only the ranting of strange people, God’s salvation only a win at the lottery or the luck of the draw.
As I consider my day, I wonder if there are any people who will listen to God’s Word. Are there any warnings I can give that will stop some and help them turn from sin to God. Is there something more I can do or say that will turn people from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God?
There were those of an earlier day who did that very thing. God is still the same unchanging and unchangeable God. His truth is the same. He can still bring light in the darkness; hope to the hopeless; grace to the needy; mercy to the guilty; love to the unlovable.
As I thought on my Gracious Heavenly Father, I was strengthened and encouraged to call people to come to the ark of safety which is Christ. By God’s grace to me, I will seek to obey Him and apply myself to this work I am called to and I will trust Him to produce the results that can bring Him honor and glory. He has purposed to build His church.
I am allowed to be His servant – even me!
If I were living in Noah’s day
Would I be any different?
When I listened to what people has to say –
Would I from those people be absent?
To accommodate to the pressure to live
The same as everyone else –
Would mean I too would have nothing to give
And I too would be put on the shelf.
But I am not living then, I am living now –
There are a lot of similarities in the times.
I am not always wondering how
To adapt to the changing moral climes.
My obligation is to be consistent
In the messages I pass on.
Even though ignored, I have to be persistent –
And give warnings to every one.
I would like to be considered righteous
And blameless among all men.
Even though some people are not the nicest
The Gospel needs to be told to them.
If I can be faithful to the Lord
And seek to represent Christ well
By teaching and preaching only God’s Word –
Perhaps some will be saved from hell.
“O Lord God, may the efforts of this day and the messages Thou dost give us to pass on, be used by Thee this day in reaching souls. Give to Thy servant acceptable words as well as acceptance with the people in this place. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”