BUT NOAH FOUND GRACE…

God is always looking for people through whom He can help the world. Whether we realise it or not, the God of all creation, is interested in helping us always, in a meaningful way. This is why the apostle John records the words of Jesus from John chapter three for our benefit.
– “17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” – John 3:17

Around 2300 BC, about 4,300 years ago, God Almighty was looking for someone, through whom He could show His mercy and grace, upon the fallen world. The Bible records that, the man and the world we live in, was in sinfulness to the very core.
– “5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” – Genesis 6:5

The sinfulness of man, had turned him into evil, of the worst kind. This is all too clear from the above verse. The sinfulness and the rebellion of man, had grieved God so intensely that, the following words of God, tell us the intensity and the seriousness of our sinfulness.
– “6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” – Genesis 6:6

The righteous God, does not allow sin to go, without being punished. In fact, the consequences of sin, is a natural thing, which will follow our sin – “What we sow, that we reap.” 
– “7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” – Genesis 6:7

However, just when it was hopeless, and the world was about to be utterly destroyed, God found a man, on whom He could show Him mercy and grace.
– “8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” – Genesis 6:8

“Noah found grace” does not mean, Noah is righteous and sinless. Far from it, he was just as guilty of sin, as any of us are.
– “22…For there is no difference; 23…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [and] 23…the wages of sin is death…” – Romans 3:22b-23; 6:23a
What “Noah found grace” means is – of all the sinful people in the world, God found Noah to be someone, in and through whom, He can show His grace, so that the world, and the man would not have to be destroyed, which we so rightly deserve.

All through the human history, God raised up different people, who found grace in the eyes of the LORD. Yet, everything came back to where it all started. Man returned to sin, as a pig would to the dirt, which it loves so much. This is not God’s failure, but to help us understand that, any amount of reform would not change the heart of man, and make him acceptable in God’s sight. Man simply did not have the capacity to self-reform himself, even God though gave us opportunity upon opportunity, by not destroying us. This is to demonstrate to man, his true status and his helpless and hopeless estate.

The situation of man, that we are helpless and hopeless, because of our sin and rebellion, comes as no surprise to God, our Creator. He knew it all too well. Therefore, He Himself chose to come down, in flesh and blood, and to offer Himself as an offering of sacrifice, to purchase our redemption. Jesus the Messiah is the permanent solution, to this problem of sin, which is made once and forever.
– “11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” – Hebrews 10:11-14

God is still looking for people, who would find grace in His sight, so that He can use us, as His instruments of grace, mercy and blessing. Would we find grace in the sight of God, as did Noah? Let us ask ourselves this question, in all earnestness. Let us answer this question, with all honesty and integrity. Let us seek the LORD sincerely, that He would use us, for His glory, for the extension of His kingdom, and for the blessing of His people. May we find grace, in the sight of God. Even so, the LORD help us.