Brian Cole: 'Noah' - Part Two

Every Sunday, DrydenWire.com publishes a submitted article in a weekly series from Pastor Brian Cole. If you would have a question for Brian or would like to learn more about him, visit his website or his official Facebook page.

Genesis 6:9-10 – Noah, part 2 (read part 1 HERE)

Last week we covered a couple things about Noah and his life, that he was a “righteous man,” and he was “blameless.” We continue looking at Noah’s life this week.

Third, Noah “walked with God.” We covered this concept of “walking with God” a few weeks ago. This means he had daily, step-by-step fellowship with God. He had God as his companion as he walked through life.

When we walk with a loved one or a close friend you are close to each other, you laugh, talk, listen, and usually share deep thoughts and what is on your heart. You are focused on this person. You notice the beauty around you and, sometimes, occasional distractions, but only to point it out to the person you are walking with. You share it together. You are in harmony!

Walking with God is alot like that! When we enter into relationship with God through Faith in Jesus, He becomes our hearts greatest desire. Knowing Him, hearing his voice, sharing our hearts with Him, and seeking to please Him becomes our focus in life. He becomes everything to us!

When Scripture speaks of “walking” it usually refers to a lifestyle. In the N.T. walking with God is usually referred to as “walking in the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:4). To walk with God means we choose to glorify Him in every way we can regardless of personal cost. And there is a cost! Walking with God means we cannot walk with evil people as companions. (Ps. 1:1-3). Walking with God means we choose the narrow road over the broad way to destruction. (Matt. 7:13-14). Walking with God means we seek to eliminate from our lives everything that doesn’t enhance our walk with Him. (Heb. 12_2).

There is a STARK contrast between those who walk with God and those who don’t! They produce the fruit of the Spirit rather than the fruit of fleshly desire.

In Acts 4:13 Peter and John had been arrested for preaching and were brought before the authorities. The members of the counsel were amazed when they saw their boldness because they knew Peter and John were ordinary men with no special training in Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus!
When we walk with God every day, the world cannot help but recognize that, in SPITE of our imperfections and lack of knowledge in some areas, that WE have been with Jesus! This type of imitate fellowship does not happen by chance; it must be cultivated. It takes work to be godly. Is our walk with God vibrant?

Lastly, Noah walked with God before his family. Noah’s godliness was the godliness of a man who was involved in ordinary life. He did not withdraw from society. Real godliness is not like that. Noah was out and about in God’s world. He provided for his family. The linking of the names of his sons with his faithful life surely indicates that Noah influenced his family in spiritual matters.

Apparently, Noah instructed his family to believe in God...and they did! More often than not, when a husband and father exert spiritual leadership in the home, the entire family responds and follows his lead.

It is interesting to note, however, that Noah’s only converts were his wife, his sons, and their wives (6:18). Evidently, not a single person outside his family paid the slightest attention to what he had to say. Noah preached for the better part of 120 years and won no converts other than his own family. Nevertheless, by God’s grace, Noah won those that mattered most.

Sadly, some of us have been so absorbed in winning their world for Christ that they have failed to win their own home. This is a travesty! Our top priority must always be to influence our family members for Christ. This is one of the top requirements of leadership; to have children that believe and to manage one’s own household well (1Tim 3:4-5, 12; Titus 1:6). Is this our conviction? Are we investing well in our family?

I need to go even further. I believe an important principle is illustrated here: Noah’s faith and obedience resulted in the salvation and obedience of his family. This principle can also bear fruit in our lives as parents and grandparents. Unfortunately, many of us wonder why our children and grandchildren aren’t turning out the way that we would like.

Often, we don’t stop to immediately ask what role we have played in their lack of spiritual development. How can we expect our children to be obedient if we aren’t obedient? When Christian parents grieve over a lost child who has rebelled against God, His Word, His Son, and His church, they wonder where he learned to rebel. Quite often a child learns at home, from parents who have been rebellious is some area of life. Parents, we must live up to the standard that God has set for us if we hope our children will be fruitful disciples.

As an ender I want to go back to “Righteousness.” I want us all to understand that true and perfect righteousness is NOT possible for us to attain on our own: God’s standard of human righteousness is God’s own perfection in every attribute, every attitude, every behavior and every word!

God’s laws, as given in the Bible, both describe His own character and set the standard by which He measures human righteousness! Think that’s possible!!??

Here’s the Good News! True righteousness IS possible for us, did ya know that! True righteousness is possible through the cleansing of sin by Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit!! WOOOO!!! We have absolutely no ability to achieve righteousness in and of ourselves. We have no ability to live up to the expectations God has set down in the Law. There’s absolutely NO WAY for us to live by Biblical expectations all the time!

But we possess the righteousness of Jesus Christ, because “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that IN Him we might become the righteousness of God!” (2 Cor. 5:21). On the Cross, Jesus exchanged our sins for His perfect righteousness so that we can one day stand before God and He will not see our sin, but rather, the Holy Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ! This means that we are made righteous in the sight of God, we are accepted as righteous and treated as righteous on account of what Jesus has done.

He was made sin, we were made righteous! On the cross, Jesus was treated AS IF He were a sinner, though He was perfect, Holy and Pure; and we are treated AS IF we were righteous though we are defiled and depraved!!! On account of what the Lord Jesus has endured on our behalf, we are treated as if we had entirely fulfilled the Law and have never become exposed to it’s penalty - GRACE!!!!