Finding Grace In the Eyes of the Lord!

"There are many reasons God saves you: to bring glory to himself, to appease his justice, to demonstrate his sovereignty. But one of the sweetest reasons God saved you is because he is fond of you. He likes having you around. He thinks you are the best thing to come down the pike in quite a while…. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring, and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he’ll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart. And the Christmas gift he sent you in Bethlehem? Face it, friend. He’s crazy about you!"   -God’s Favor toward Us, Citation: Max Lucado, A Gentle Thunder (Word, 1995)

In Genesis 6:5-7, we read about God's displeasure with the world and its wickedness. But as God pronounces judgment upon the world, and prepares to destroy it with a flood, we find encouraging words concerning one man: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Genesis 6:8).

This simply means that Noah found favor in God's sight, and we know the result of that favor:  escape for him and his family from the flood! But why Noah? Why did Noah find grace in the eyes of the Lord? And how might we apply this to our situation today?

Examining this a little closer, we see several reasons why Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. First of all, he was "a just man" (Genesis 6:9). Some translations say "righteous." This likely refers to his moral relation to God (Keil & Delitzsch). Next, he was "perfect in his generations" (Genesis 6:9). Other translations (NASV, NIV) use the word "blameless. "Not that he was sinless, but that there were no blatant faults. He was a man of moral integrity among the people.

Additionally, he "walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). This is how he manifested his righteousness and integrity (Keil & Delitzsch). In walking with God, he imitated the example of Enoch, his great-grandfather (Genesis 5:24). Walking with God in Noah's case likely involved...Calling upon the name of the Lord (which began in the days of Seth (Genesis 4:26). And, offering sacrifices to God (which began in the days of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:3-4).

Noah also "did according to all that the Lord had commanded him. Twice this is emphasized in the Scriptures (Genesis 6:22; 7:5). Note here, we learn from the writer of Hebrews that this obedience of Noah came from faith (Hebrews 11:7). And lastly, he was "a preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5). He not only "lived" a righteous life; but he also "proclaimed" the need for righteousness, even though he lived in a very ungodly world.

From what we just discussed, Noah certainly was an unusual man. But, perhaps we now can see why only he and his family "found grace in the eyes of the Lord." What about ourselves?  Is there a need for us to "find grace in the eyes of the Lord" today?  Yes, you bet there is! And this is how "we" can find  grace in the eyes of the Lord.

We must be "just" in his sight. Fortunately, the good news of the gospel is that God sent Christ in order to make us "just" (righteous, forgiven) in His sight! (Romans 5:8-9) This blessing is available to all who demonstrate true faith in Jesus (Romans 3:24-26). Being justified, we can have peace with God (concerning which Peter wrote)  Romans 5:1; cf. 2 Peter 3:14.

We must be "perfect" in our generation. That is, to be complete, mature, to be everything God desires of us. Again, the good news of the gospel of Christ is that God has provided the necessary elements for us to be "perfect"! He has provided: the blood of Christ, to cleanse us of our sins (1 John 1:7-9); the Word of God, to guide us to completion (2 Timothy 3:16-17); the strength of the Spirit, to help us in our struggles (Ephesians 3:16; Romans 8:13); and the providence of God, who will work with us and lead us to victory! (2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 Peter 5:10).

We must "walk with God." Of course, this would mean that we can "no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk..." (cf. Ephesians 4:17-20). Rather, it requires that we be "followers of God as dear children" (Ephesians 5:1), and that we..."Walk in love" (Ephesians 5:2); "Walk as children of light", exposing the sins of darkness (Ephesians 5:8-11); and "Walk as wise", with an understanding of what the Lord's will is " (Ephesians 5:15-17).

We must "do all that the Lord has commanded." This means, observing not just "some" things, but "all" things (cf. Matthew 28:20). For in so doing, we demonstrate our faith to be "a living faith" (cf. James 2:17,24,26).

And, we must be "preachers of righteousness." It is God's will that we "proclaim the praises of Him", which would include His righteousness (cf. 1 Peter 2:9). This can be done most vividly by example, in living  transformed lives (cf. Romans 12:1-2).

God does not want anyone to perish in the great conflagration, or great fire, that is yet to come. But, He does require all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9; Acts 17:30-31). And when we turn from sin and turn to God, what do we find? The same thing Noah and his family found: "grace in the eyes of the Lord"!

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:24; Titus 2:11; Romans 11:6; Romans 5:2; Acts 15:11; Ephesians 4:7

Prayer: Dear Lord, grant me the strength to allow my desire to succeed be greater than my fear of failure. Amen

May God be with you always!

Albany