“But Noah found grace in the eyes of
the LORD.”
Genesis 6:8 NKJV
In the world we live in today, how often do you hear someone take the position
that we "deserve" many of the things we have? I often hear many
people say that we have a right to obtain or experience certain things in this
life, and by now I am sure you are familiar with the fact that many so called
preachers of the Word tell their followers the same thing. Yet anyone who
studies the Word of God with an open mind soon finds that we as sinners deserve
only one thing, and that is God's judgment. Yet the possibility to escape that
which we deserve is a manifestation of what is called "grace", given
to us by God despite the fact we are undeserving.
The first time the word grace is used in the Bible is here in Genesis where God
tells us that "Noah found grace". One of the often quoted verses
believers use when discussing the possibility we are living in the last days,
and again when talking about the rapture is something Jesus said in the Olivet
Discourse.
"But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of
Man be.”
Matthew 24:37 NKJV
But while most of the time the discussion centers around what people were like
in Noah's day, one subject we usually find ignored is what made Noah different?
What was it about Noah that helped him find “grace in the eyes of the Lord”? I
believe if we look closely at what other men were like as opposed to Noah, we
will see just what it is that God is looking for in order to bestow His grace
on the undeserving.
“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.”
Genesis 6:5 NKJV
The first thing I think we are told in this verse about finding grace is that
God has given us all a choice; a choice in whom we will serve. One of the
things we know for certain is that all throughout Noah's age, as well as ours,
God was and is calling out to men and pleading with them not to be deceived by
Satan's lies. Yet the Bible makes it clear that men had made their choice, and
it was to reject what God had to offer in exchange for the lie that Satan
presents. So what was the first thing that set Noah and his family apart? They
had made a choice to follow God, and the result was the chance to experience
God's grace. All men must make a choice of whom they will serve, and that
choice determines whether or not we experience God's grace, or His judgment.
"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for
yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers
served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites,
in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the
LORD."
Joshua 24:15 NKJV
Second, in order for man to obtain grace, something I believe God is looking
for is obedience. If we look at this verse we find that the result of man
making the wrong choice was “wickedness”. From the context it seems evident
what is being described are the actions of men after making their choice. When
talking about the actions we take in this life, I believe they can be best
described in only one of two ways; obedience to God, or disobedience. Those who
choose to serve God, also choose to be obedient to Him and His commands.
Obviously from this verse, it would seem that the result of making the wrong
choice and serving Satan, results in only one thing and that is disobedience
which leads to wickedness. Noah not only made the right choice in choosing to
serve God, the result was also obedience, which was the second reason he found
grace.
“Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.”
Genesis 6:22 NKJV
The third thing I believe we find in this verse is that in order to find grace
we must have a heart for God. Notice that after talking about man's wickedness,
we are told that “every intent” of man's heart was “evil continually”. How
depraved is that? What we are being told is that absolutely nothing in man's
heart was considered good, but only evil. The Hebrew word for heart here means
man's inner will, thoughts, determination, and conscience. Basically, every
waking moment was centered around thinking about doing evil. So if Noah “found
grace”, what was in his heart? The logical answer would be just the opposite.
Apparently Noah and his family had not only made a choice to serve God, and be
obedient to His will, but to also spend their waking moments seeking to find
ways to love Him and serve Him. Their desire was to please God by seeking to do
good, rather than evil.
“So he answered and said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your
mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' "
Luke 10:27 NKJV
If we look closely at where we are today, it would appear that the world is
indeed much like the days of Noah. If we were to get all that we deserve in
this life, we would find ourselves in the same position the men of Noah's day
did; waiting to receive God's judgment. Yet because God loves us, we are
offered a choice in order to experience God's grace and escape His judgment.
How do we as sinners find grace in the eyes of God? Simply make the choice to
follow Him, be obedient to His will, and seek to show your love for Him by
committing your every waking moment to be used to further the kingdom.
Have you opened the door of your heart and invited Jesus to come in? If not, you can do that right now wherever you are. Simply pray a prayer like this and begin a new life with Jesus, and know you will spend eternity with Him.
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen.
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