Genesis 9:14-16 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.
What a blessing the rainy season is on our dry southwest lands. Although it may not seem like much to some, we are reaching an accumulative total of nearly 8” of rain over the last few weeks. My husband, who enjoys photography, has a spectacular picture just taken from our backyard with a rainbow on the left and a lightning bolt on the right. We are so thankful for the rainy season.
Today’s passage serves as a reminder of a time when wickedness was so rampant in the world that the LORD regretted making humans. The consequences of that wickedness spilled over to every living creature. Perhaps the most disheartening and condemning passage of scripture is found at the beginning of the story:
Genesis 6:5-7 The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the LORD said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.”
You and I would have no hope of existence today, except:
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
One man, one individual, remained true and faithful in all the ways of the LORD which he had been taught. We are told that Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God (cf. v. 9). In a time when “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time,” there lived one who remained true and faithful. We exist today because one man stood firm amongst the wickedness of his time.
Now we fast forward to our time. If ever there seemed to be a time when wickedness once again prevails, it is the age in which we are living. The human race was spared extinction by the faithfulness of Noah. Greater than this; the human race is now offered salvation with the promise of eternal life because of the sacrifice of one man, Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Acts 3:19-20 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the rains you send to water our dry lands. Thank you for the example of Noah who stood firm amidst the evil of his day; teaching us that we, too, can stand firm amidst the evil of our day. And of most importance, we humbly thank you for Jesus Christ whose sacrifice brings us salvation and the promise of eternal life at his return. Forgive us when we falter, and may we be found faithful in your sight.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
The devotional May We Be Found Faithful appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
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