Bible Study Article
The Condition of Your Heart
The Example of Noah
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. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth… But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD… Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God… And God said unto Noah… Make thee an ark of gopher wood… But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female… Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Excerpts from Genesis 6:6-22 (KJV)These excerpts from Genesis 6 give an overview of the condition of man's heart, of why God spared Noah and his family, and of the condition of Noah's heart. For a fuller reading see Genesis Chapters 6 through 10.
Noah was Different
The scripture tells us that the hearts of men were evil. So much so that God destroyed them all - except Noah and his family. What was different about Noah? In Genesis 6:9 the King James translation (KJV) of the Bible says, Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. The New International Version (NIV) says, Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. The New Living Translations (NLT) says, Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless man living on earth at the time. He consistently followed God's will and consequently, he enjoyed a close relationship with him.
Because his heart was righteous, he found favor in the eyes of the Lord (Gen. 6:8 NIV).
Noah Walked With God
Whichever translation you read, it is clear that Noah's heart was right with God. This was because he walked with God, because of his close relationship with God.
Noah Led a Life of Holiness.
We can conclude that since Noah's heart was different from others that he also separated himself from the dominant and corrupt activities of his society.
A life of holiness takes courage and strength, which Noah could only get from God, not his sinful neighbors. Without his walked with God, Noah could not overcome the evil desires of his day. He could not have led his family in the path of righteousness.
Noah was Obedient
Several times in scripture it says that Noah did everything just as God commanded him (Genesis 6:22 NIV). In order for Noah to be obedient, he first had to submit his will to God's will. Noah was on God's program - not the other way around. Noah followed God. He was close to him. They had good communication and good communication brings good understanding. So when God called Noah to build the Ark, he understood and he obeyed.
Noah Stood Alone
Noah stood alone in his time, but in his heart he stood with God because he walked with God. He didn't wait until God called him to build the Ark to get serious about his walk. He could not have lasted through 12 decades of ridicule by his neighbors as he preached and built the Ark without his walk.
Follow Noah's Example
All of us can follow Noah's example of holiness, courage and obedience by getting our hearts right through walking with God.
Commit yourself today to spend time with God everyday in Prayer, Worship, Praise and in His Word. Establish that close relationship you have been thinking about.
Find favor with God just like Noah found favor by conditioning your heart through your walk with God.
Seven Points for Walking with God
- God does the leading. As Jesus said, you must submit to God (Matthew 6:10, Luke 11:28, John 14:23). Noah was obedient.
- There must be good communication. You pray and listen just as Noah did. God (through the Holy Spirit) reveals just as God spoke to Noah. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
- Have faith – which comes from hearing (or reading) God’s Word (Rom. 10:17). Noah walked with God; therefore, he believed.
- Give God praise & worship (Matthew 6:9). Noah was a worshipper (Genesis 8:20).
- Lead a life of holiness (Hebrews 12:14). Noah separated himself and his family from the violence, corruption and sensuality of society.
- Have patience (Colossians 3:12, 2 Peter 1:6, James 5:7-11). For 120 years Noah preached the Word of God while he built the Ark (2 Peter 2:5).
- Know your position in God’s Kingdom. (Gen. 1:26-28, Psalm 8:5-6, Rom. 8:15) As a servant of God, Noah understood that he had dominion, both before the Ark and after the flood. God gave him the courage and strength to stand alone. He had the material resources to accomplish what God called him to do. Even the animals obeyed Noah.
Are You Walking With God?
Or
Are You Stepping Out On Your Own?
Study God's Word
Hebrews 4:12 NIV
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Luke 8:15 NIV
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Revelation 1:3 NIV
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.