LEARNING DAILY

Genesis 6:8, But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

I have had this thought running through my head for some time; God forgave me of my sinfulness when I confessed to Him I was a sinner and needed His forgiveness. Since that time many years ago He has continued to forgive me over and over again. I am so thankful He never has given up on me! I am sure every believer can say that as well. That thought has continued to amaze me and I wonder why that is. Then I read this from A.W. Tozer, “God out of His goodness acts according to that goodness and does what His loving heart dictates that He do. Nobody ever got anything from God on the grounds that he deserved it. Having fallen, man deserves only punishment and death. So, if God answers prayer, it is because God is good. From His goodness, His lovingkindness, His good-natured benevolence, God does it! That’s the source of everything.”

Perhaps my thoughts have been caused by the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I have spent more time in prayer for those I know who “act” like they have never given their life to Jesus, for Him to save and change them. I have been thinking about eternity in God’s kingdom and the thought of being able to talk to the many individuals I have read about and studied in God’s Word; I am in awe of being able to do that! Tozer had something to say about these people as well. “Nobody has been saved, from the day that Abel offered his bloody lamb on a homemade altar, down to the latest convert made today, except out of the goodness of God. Because of God’s grace, His mercy, His lovingkindness, His goodness and graciousness, His cordiality and approachability, He kindly saved people.”

That means that everyone is saved only by God’s grace. The Old Testament men and women we read about today did not save themselves through anything they did. They were saved out of the goodness, the grace of God. Yes, they did the right things. Yes, they lived according to the way that was acceptable to God. Think of the significance of that. Noah was saved by God’s grace. So was Joseph, Moses, Daniel and David. All those who lived according to God’s commands were saved until Jesus’ death and resurrection. From that time on all who were saved are saved because by their faith and trust in Him. It is by the grace of God that any and all people are saved! It is by the undeserved favor of God alone that brings salvation.

Perhaps understanding the verse from Genesis about Noah can give us insight to God’s grace and why He continues to forgive us as we continue to sin as we walk the narrow way. God saw the wickedness of man on earth and was sorry He had made man. He looked upon the earth and saw that Noah trusted Him and his faith pleased God. “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” It was Noah’s faith and trust in God that qualified him as righteous. It is one’s faith that pleases God. It is out of the goodness of God that He does what He does in the life of the Believer.

To be blameless (or perfect in verse 9) refers to the person who is extremely obedient to God. It does not mean Noah was sinless or morally perfect – only Jesus Christ would live His life in this way. Noah did good things and didn’t do bad things and that set him apart from the rest of humanity at this time. Genesis 6:9 tells us, “Noah walked with God”.

Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men”. God’s grace has been given to all Believers, to all who follow Him faithfully. Believers must walk the narrow way the Lord Jesus has placed us on, walking in His light and making Him the priority of their life. Believers must “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”.