As I was reading & studying about Noah this morning, I found the following quote.
"Our culture today is surely "as in the days of Noah." It is a culture of violence, madness, and untold depravity. And yet it is perhaps exemplified by "chamas"- the theft of trivial amounts. In other words, we pilfer and filch, making compromises with the duty to pursue justice and practice truth, we become progressively deadened, insensate, and devoid of conscience. We deny that each of us is created in the image of God Himself and thereby degrade our own humanity."
Sadly enough, I saw myself relating to the actions & mentality of the culture "as in the days of Noah" as I read. I wanted to post the quote without any comment as a proclamation of the world around me. Those of us who are believers often do that hoping we can somehow change our own actions by publicly sharing a quote like that, when we privately struggle with what we so adamantly denounce. I'm thankful that God's Spirit isn't allowing me to do that today, but He instead is moving me inward to see the necessity of daily sanctification, & dependence on Him, in my own life.
If I'm honest, I began this study looking at the Faith & Courage it took for Noah to build the Ark. (I'm very excited about the movie coming out) I am challenged & encouraged by the faith and abandonment that Noah possessed as he pursued what God asked him to do. I sense that same desire & call to abandonment in my own life. But then as I continued to study I saw myself not only desiring to walk as Noah did, but also sadly relating to the attitude and actions of the people in the culture that God was about to destroy. I do desire to have the faith and courage Noah had to build the Ark, but also am recognizing more and more that I can NEVER become that person of Faith & Courage without acknowledging the need for repentance & transformation in my own life daily.
So, if you find yourself in this same tug-o-war, I just thought I'd share that you are not alone. It stinks, but Jesus didn't leave us alone or without hope. We have a choice. Jesus said....
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the flood waters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Jesus (Matt. 7:24-27)
"Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Jesus (Mark 4:21-23)
"Our culture today is surely "as in the days of Noah." It is a culture of violence, madness, and untold depravity. And yet it is perhaps exemplified by "chamas"- the theft of trivial amounts. In other words, we pilfer and filch, making compromises with the duty to pursue justice and practice truth, we become progressively deadened, insensate, and devoid of conscience. We deny that each of us is created in the image of God Himself and thereby degrade our own humanity."
Sadly enough, I saw myself relating to the actions & mentality of the culture "as in the days of Noah" as I read. I wanted to post the quote without any comment as a proclamation of the world around me. Those of us who are believers often do that hoping we can somehow change our own actions by publicly sharing a quote like that, when we privately struggle with what we so adamantly denounce. I'm thankful that God's Spirit isn't allowing me to do that today, but He instead is moving me inward to see the necessity of daily sanctification, & dependence on Him, in my own life.
If I'm honest, I began this study looking at the Faith & Courage it took for Noah to build the Ark. (I'm very excited about the movie coming out) I am challenged & encouraged by the faith and abandonment that Noah possessed as he pursued what God asked him to do. I sense that same desire & call to abandonment in my own life. But then as I continued to study I saw myself not only desiring to walk as Noah did, but also sadly relating to the attitude and actions of the people in the culture that God was about to destroy. I do desire to have the faith and courage Noah had to build the Ark, but also am recognizing more and more that I can NEVER become that person of Faith & Courage without acknowledging the need for repentance & transformation in my own life daily.
So, if you find yourself in this same tug-o-war, I just thought I'd share that you are not alone. It stinks, but Jesus didn't leave us alone or without hope. We have a choice. Jesus said....
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the flood waters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Jesus (Matt. 7:24-27)
"Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Jesus (Mark 4:21-23)
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