Noah Walked With God

 Noah walked with God. Such a simple truth. One with profound implications. Consider the backdrop of that statement. It was written in the context of the complete wickedness of society found in Genesis 6:1-9. . Every imagination and intent of the thoughts of those who lived in Noah's day was only on evil continually. 

Nobody thought a righteous thought. Nobody planned or prayed for a God encounter. In fact, violence filled the whole earth. So much so God pronounced judgment to destroy all mankind by flood except for Noah and his family. 

Even with all the wickedness around him, Noah still walked with God. He followed God. He conversed with God. He pursued God. He refused to be distracted by all the evil and temptation around him. 

Did Noah face temptation? I am sure he did. He still walked blamelessly. Did Noah feel the peer pressure to compromise and conform to wickedness? I believe he did, but kept living righteously. He walked with God when the rest of the world walked away from Him. He communed with God when others offended God with their evil actions. He stayed true and faithful when all others lived in depravity. None of these things deterred Noah from walking with God. 

This begs the question how is our walk wit God? Have we neglected or forsaken that walk for much less? Have we fallen for the lie we are just too busy to maintain quality devotion time with Jehovah? Do we justify half hearted devotions void of passion and focus? Are we lured away from God to walk after shiny temptations that ensnare us?

Noah walked with God even though it put him at odds with the whole world. Including his family, friends, neighbors and community. He put spiritual blinders on giving his focus to a close relationship with God. God rewarded that relationship by communicating a special assignment. An assignment that impacted the whole world. 

Reading about Noah walking with God fuels a passion in me to do the same. To spend valuable time in His presence. To move at His pace. To draw near to Him. To not lag behind Him nor run ahead of Him. To walk with Him. To stay in step with Him. To tune my ears to listen to His counsel and commands. To enjoy Him. To know Him. To walk step by step day by day with Him. That is both a privilege and a priority. 

It would be great if at our funerals someone said, "Helen walked with God. Pam walked with God. Kelly walked with God. Dierdre walked with God. Terri walked with God. Connie walked with God. Brenda walked with God. Valerie walked with God. Lisa walked with God. Sylvia walked with God. Aline walked with God. Allan walked with God. David walked with God. Gary walked with God. Damon walked with God. Fred walked with God. Hughey walked with God. Hugh walked with God. Paul walked with God. Haskel walked with God. Tim walked with God. Dennis walked with God.  You walked with God."

May that be our habit, our custom, our quest and our greatest delight. Lord, please help us be a people who walk with y=You. In Your name, amen.