RISE ABOVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES

“And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.”—Genesis 7:17

Jesus said in Matthew 24:37, “that as the days of Noah were, so shall the coming of the Son of man be.”  Many Biblical scholars believe that the return of Jesus is very near, due in a large part to social changes and behaviors.   Genesis chapter six explains to us that the wickedness of humankind was so great that even the imaginations of the thoughts of their hearts was always evil and great violence filled the earth.  People were going about their every day lives without any thought about God—without any regard to righteousness.  People were living as they pleased.  Whatever they wanted to do; they did.  This is called self-governance.  Doing whatever pleases self to do.  Whatever serves an individual’s self-interest is called self-governance. 

Noah and his family did not live like this.  Scripture tells us that Noah found grace in the sight of God and that He instructed him to build an ark that would preserve Noah and to conserve the life of the animals.  Reflect for a moment and draw strength and understanding from Noah’s actions after God told him to build the ark.

First, God called on Noah to do something that he had never done before.  Sometimes God calls upon us to do something that we have never done before.

Secondly, God gave Noah specific instructions on how to carry out God’s plans.  God gives us instructions when He calls upon us.  He doesn’t keep us in the dark – even if it seems like it is taking a long time.

Thirdly, God’s grace will always protect.  When it was time for Noah and his family to be secured in the ark, God shut the door so that they would come to no harm.

Lastly, the same rain that brought judgment to the earth brought deliverance to Noah.  It caused him to rise above the circumstances and to be delivered from the wickedness and evilness that surrounded him. 

Be encouraged today that God’s grace is at work in your life and in your circumstances and will cause you to rise to the top and be preserved.

 

Prayer—Heavenly Father thank You for Your grace at work in my life.  Today I repent for acting in self-governance in my life, and I ask You to forgive me.  Today I yield myself to You and to Your instructions.  Lord, thank You for preserving me and my family in any and all circumstances.  Lord, I trust You to help me today to confidently rely upon You grace in my life, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.