Noah, Blameless in His Time.

     The bible records that in the days prior to the flood, mankind was exceedingly wicked.

     Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
                                           Genesis 6:5 NASB

     The life of Noah stands in sharp contrast to the wickedness of the world around him. We read that Noah found favor in God's sight.

     But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.
                                       Genesis 6:8-9 NASB

     The bible holds up individuals as examples of God's standard for our lives. Noah was such an example for us to look at. Consider that he was a righteous individual. The definition of righteousness is one who is rightly related to God, they are justified in His sight by faith. Righteousness however, also means to live rightly. That is to do what is morally right. This is not an old testament concept of works based salvation. God has always desired mankind, and still desires mankind, to live righteously. His desire is that we would do what is morally upright in His eyes.
     We read in the first epistle of John that the one who practices righteousness is righteous (1 John 3:8). There is no separating of the two. An individual who has experienced the grace of God, who has been justified, and is now rightly related to God, will in fact live in a manner consistent with that fact. Such an individual will now do what is right in the eyes of God. Like Noah, they will stand in contrast to the world around them, going against the grain of the world's sinful beliefs and practices.
     The bible also records that Noah was blameless. This speaks of a moral wholeness, integrity, a purity of intention to live for God. While the world lives for selfish ends, a blameless individual desires with all of his heart to live for Christ. Such an individual might have times of weakness, may stumble, may have things in his or her life that God desires to purify, but the cry of their heart is to live in a manner that is pleasing to God. They get up when they fall down, and continue on with God. Just as it says that Noah walked with God, an upright and blameless individual also walks with God, ordering their life and conduct by the standard of God's word. An individual who claims to walk with God, but lives out their life for their own selfish pursuits, is a deceived individual. They are no different than those whose intentions were only evil continually, as in the days of Noah.
     How does your life line up with the standard that God has put before you? Would you look at your life and find that you fit in with the world and its sinful ways? Or, does your life look like Noah's? Do you seek to please God in all your ways? Do you do what is right? Are you rightly related to God, and walking in relationship with Him, ordering your conduct by His standards?
     God regretted that He had made man, and determined to destroy mankind from the face of the earth (Genesis 6:6-7), but Noah found favor with God. We too, will someday face God, to be judged for the things that we have done. Will you be destroyed with all of the wicked, or will you, like Noah, find favor with God?
     You must be born again!