Talk About Being Being the Only One Taking a Stand...

Poor Noah. Here was a guy who knew what was right while the world around him was in sinful chaos. The Bible says in Genesis 6:9 that Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.

...And you think YOU feel alone in your faith sometimes!!

I often wonder how it was that Noah was able to stay close to God while the rest of the world fell into corruption. Who influenced him in his faith in God? There was no written Scripture back then (Moses had not yet written the first five books of the Bible), so what was it...who was it...that influenced Noah to the point of having such a strong faith while the rest of the world became so wicked that God had to destroy all living creatures? And the Bible doesn't state that his family was righteous like he was. It says that Noah was "the only blameless person living on the earth at the time."

Then God asks Noah to do something so totally out of the blue - something people had no way of understanding or relating to. You need to understand that rain had never fallen from the sky before this time. The people thought Noah was absolutely nuts. But he stood firm in his faith and was obedient to what God was telling him to do.

I have to ask myself how firm would I stand in my faith if I felt like I was the only one who believed in God? What if God asked me to do something that the rest of the world mocked and ridiculed?

We will never have to face a situation that was as extreme as Noah's (God promised -- remember the rainbow?), but I believe with all my heart that, as Christians (those of us who profess a faith in Jesus Christ and have placed our trust in his redeeming sacrifice), we are going to face more and more circumstances in the future where we may feel that we are alone...we are the only one standing for Truth. Just look around at what is going on in the world today - even in just the United States alone. Christianity is under attack. It is very subtle in many ways right now, but it is there and it is gaining momentum.

How well will you be able to do what God has asked you to do when it seems like everyone around you is against you? I wish I could answer that for myself. I would like to think that I would stand strong FOR God, that my resolve would not crumble under pressure.

Noah must have had a very strong foundation of faith under his feet, and his focus must have been soley upon God and not the mocking people around him. We need to be building that strong of a foundation of faith for ourselves. We have so many more advantages than Noah did. We aren't going to be alone...there will be others who are able to take the stand for Jesus. We have God's Word to read, to study, to memorize and internalize in order to help build that foundation. Plus we have the Holy Spirit living inside us to give us strength to stand when the time comes. The tools are there for that strong foundation -- we just have to take advantage of them.

The Bible says in Matthew 24:37-39: When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn't realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

Is your focus on God or on the circumstances around you? If your focus is on God, you will be able to stand for him when the time comes.


------------------------------

Archive Journal Entry... March 1, 2005

Sometimes when I think about the disciples and the things they said and did when they were with Jesus, I can't help but think about how silly and foolish they sometimes were. But then I think about how I could have possibly reacted being around someone who was so totally different and special. I'm pretty sure that I would come off sounding and acting rather foolish myself.

The disciples had such a unique experience, never again to be experienced by another human being. What joy they must have had to hear Jesus speak, to see the miracles he performed, to be a part of his ministry as he walked on earth.

I can't fault them for their moments of doubt - I have them. I can't fault them for their moments of weakness - I know I certainly have them. It is because of their example that I know God is willing to stick with me, is patient with me and continues to love, guide, support and encourage me, even when I stumble and fall.

Thank you, Father God, for the reminder this morning of your love and faithfulness to me. I am unworthy, but I am so very thankful that by the blood of Jesus Christ I have the authority to come to your throne. You alone are worthy of all praise.