"Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you." Genesis 6:17-18 NIV

Noah revealed it is possible to be righteous in a godless generation.
The story of Noah has become so watered down we almost forget it's holy and meant for us to learn a vital scriptural truth about evil. Evil doesn't begin with action. Evil originates in the mind with selfish corrupted thoughts. It then moves toward total corruption of society. Genesis 6 clearly states every inclination of humanity was bent toward evil. It's not hard to imagine what kind of wickedness could evolve from minds completely devoted to evil. Corruption had become completely embedded into the DNA of creation. In the beginning, God celebrated and rejoiced over Creation but at the destruction God grieved, wept and deeply regretted he made man.

When society experiences moral failure--God looks for men and women to stand in the gap.
A ‘gap’ is a place where integrity has been compromised. Since every inclination of humanity was toward evil people could no longer judge what was right or wrong. Society lost favor and eventually lost all sense of a moral compass. But, Noah found favor in God's eyes and he is described as a righteous man. Noah stood in the gap and he did it in a very public way which invited ridicule, mocking and severe opposition.

Noah revealed that it is possible to be godly in a godless generation.
Noah had integrity but that doesn't mean he was sinless. Developing a godly character is a messy business. It takes faith, repentance and time. It is costly and requires sacrifice, pain and perseverance. Noah found favor because he did everything just as the Lord commanded him. He followed through with his actions even in the midst of strong opposition. Noah was faithful and obedient over time. In the end, God made a covenant with Noah. His descendents would begin again. God gave the rainbow a special meaning when he made this covenant. The rainbow is a product of sunshine and storm. It's colors can remind us of the spectrum of grace and appears as a reminder of the lengths God will go for the righteous obedient heart.

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” Genesis 9:16 NIV

-Pastor Jen