Have you struggled with trying to figure out a biblical response when society is spiraling into further moral decay?
I really want to answer the following question. How in the world can I as an individual, how can we as a family survive the immorality of this generation? And not just survive, how can you and I impact our generation for Jesus Christ? The solution is found in a story in the Bible, and it begins in Genesis chapter 6, and it is the story of Noah and his family. It's certainly true that we live in a culture that's in moral decline.
Things that were once universally understood as wrong are now embraced as good. How's the Christian supposed to respond? Well, one of the keys to a biblical response is to understand that the situation we face isn't new. In the Old Testament, we encounter a man named Noah who faced a situation so desperate that there was no one, apart from his family, who followed the ways of God. How did Noah act? What did he do?
You're going to learn from his example today here on Wisdom for the Heart. We live in a world of violence and corruption. Immorality, adultery, homosexuality, nudity, and profanity are all considered acceptable and even portrayed by the media as a legitimate lifestyle. The unwed pregnancy rate among girls under the age of 16 has increased 80% in the last 10 years. In America, there are 10 million alcoholics, and 1 million of them are junior high kids. White collar crime has also risen dramatically in the last 10 years. It isn't surprising anymore to hear of some banker, financial investment group, some investor, or even religious leader being indicted for fraud, the tax evasion, manipulation of interest.
Downright embezzlement. I really want to answer the following question that comes as a result of hearing of just a few of the things that is happening in this country, and that is the question, how in the world can I as an individual, how can we as a family survive the immorality of this generation? And not just survive, how can you and I impact our generation for Jesus Christ? The solution is found in a story, the Bible, and it begins in Genesis chapter 6, and it is the story of Noah and his family. Now it came about when men began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Now there may be some in here, perhaps one or two that would like me to state a position on the debate that's raged whether or not these were angels fallen, or whether they were humans.
Perhaps you have heard or been involved in the discussion, and I do not want to preach a sermon on that debate, but let me at least give you a couple of reasons why I don't believe this is the demonic world. First of all, if they were demons, they wouldn't have been referred to as the sons of God. Furthermore, if they were good angels who had not yet fallen, they would not be looking or on the prowl for women. And I think of course the context here would indicate that God has a problem not with fallen angels, but men. Would you notice verse 3? Then the Lord said, my spirit shall not always strive with who? With man forever, because he also is flesh.
Nevertheless, his day shall be 120 years. I think this is a reference to the sons of God, the B'nai Elohim being the godly line of Seth. It is a godly line that is now becoming weak.
Why? Because they are intermarrying with the ungodly women of the flesh. The ungodly line of Cain, Genesis chapter 4. So now you have the intermingling of these two races that will bring about the necessity of judgment. Verse 5, then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he made man on the earth, and he was grieved in his heart. And the Lord said, I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land.
From man to animals, to creeping things, and to birds of the sky, for I am sorry that I have made them. But, underline that word but, in verse 8. However, Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. And these are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time. And Noah walked with God. The word blameless could be translated a person of integrity. Integrity is defined as uprightness of character, and Noah had it.
But that doesn't really tell us much about Noah, other than he was a man of great character. I want to give you four ingredients that I want to pull from this text. Four ingredients of integrity. And these ingredients are essential in your life, and in my life. If we will ever survive the lore, if we will ever survive the pull, and the temptation, and the obstacles to living a godly life in 20th century America.
The first ingredient is this, if you are taking notes. Integrity is purity in the midst of immorality. It is purity in the midst of immorality. Would you look back at verse 5 again, and I want you to get your pen out, and underline a few characteristic words of this generation. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. What a sad lot. They never had a good thought about them. Every thought continually was only evil.
This was the record of that generation. And right in the middle of this corrupt, sinful world is a flickering light, Noah and his little family, who were godly. And his godliness was an indictment.
In fact, I'm convinced that a person of integrity will follow God, even when it is unpopular. And Noah discovered, in effect, which way God was going to move, and he decided, when God came to him, that he would move with him. Hebrews 11. Would you turn over there to Hebrews 11?
Hebrews 11, verse 7. By faith, Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen in reverence, prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world. You see, there he was an indictment upon his ungodly society. And when I see the word world, he condemned the world, that really doesn't mean anything to you and me, and yet we use the phrase all the time. Well, we've got to fight the world. We're against the world.
What does that mean? That's a reference to the world system. What is the world system engineered by? The desires of wealth, fame, perhaps even health, popularity, pleasure. All of these things grind the wheels of this world system into full gear. And when you are an indictment on your world, what are you doing? You're living in such a way that you are not after these things or after these pleasures. It says here that he rebuked or condemned the world and became an heir of righteousness, which is according to faith.
Why? Because Noah was willing to consider the approval of God more important than the applause of men. And how did he do that? Well, we know that he did it through the chapters in Genesis by what he did that is building an ark and what he said. The New Testament refers to Noah as a preacher of righteousness. So he not only lived the life, a godly life, but he spoke the Word.
And there's a great debate today. What's the best kind of evangelism? Is it lifestyle evangelism or is it confrontational evangelism? Do you just live it and hope people get saved? Or you pound people into the corner and ask them all the questions? Which do you appreciate most? A man I respect was asked that question one time and he said, Well, let me ask you this question. Have you ever flown?
Well, yeah, I have. Well, when you're 35,000 feet up, which do you appreciate most? The left wing or the right wing? You appreciate both. And Noah did both as seen in his life. Let me give you a second ingredient of integrity. That is this. Obedience in the midst of ridicule. Obedience in the midst of ridicule. Back to Genesis chapter 6. Let's begin reading with verse 13 and read down near the end of the chapter. Well, let's start with verse 13. And God said to Noah, The end of all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with violence. There it is.
Behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood or cedar wood. You shall make the ark with rooms that could be translated nests and shall cover it inside and outside with pitch.
And this is how you're going to make it, Noah. The length of the ark, 300 cubits. Now, we don't know if that's 18, perhaps 26 or 24.
Nobody's really sure. But it's long enough that it will now measure longer than one football field when he gets finished with it. Whether you take the 12 or the 18, 24, 26 measurement. You shall make a window, verse 16, for the ark and finish it to a cubit from the top and set the door of the ark in the side of it.
And you'll make it with lower, second, and third decks. Now, this boat looks a little bit different from the kind you and I have seen in our Sunday school material. This finish looked more like a floating barge. It was almost square. It was three stories high. It was like a box that floated.
And they discovered when they put these measurements to the test that this was an almost impossible vessel to capsize. And that was important because the tidal waves, the torrential rains, the hurricane-like weather will come. And this boat is going to remain upright. Let's get back to the text, verse 18. But I will establish my covenant with you and you'll enter the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.
This is perhaps an indication that they will believe as well. And if every living thing of all flesh you'll bring two of every kind into the ark to keep them alive with you. By now Noah is scratching his head. They shall be male and female, of the birds after their kind and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing on the ground after its kind, or species. Two of every species shall come to you to keep them alive.
But as for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible and gather it to yourself and it shall be for food for you and for them. Then Noah said, you must be joking. Are you serious, Lord? You see, Noah has just been asked to build a boat longer than a football field, 45 feet high, three stories, and it's going to weigh 18,000 tons in his backyard somewhere. This is what God said to do. But would you notice his obedience was comprehensive? Get your pen out again and circle verse 22. Thus Noah did, according to all, underline the word all, according to all that God had commanded him, so he did. Look at chapter 7 verse 5. And Noah did according to all that the Lord had commanded him. Look at the last part of verse 9 in chapter 7. As God had commanded Noah, comprehensive obedience.
In fact, the word build is the same word used by the Septuagint in the New Testament, that same Greek word shows up and is called or translated prepared. In fact, why don't you turn over to Hebrews chapter 9. Hebrews chapter 9. That's pretty close to Revelation, so head right.
You'll run into it. Hebrews chapter 9 verse 1. Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary, for there was a tabernacle. Here's the word prepared. Same word used of Noah.
Now notice how this is prepared. The outer one in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread which is called the holy place. And behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the holy of holies. Having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold in which was a golden jar holding the manna and Aaron's rod which budded in the tables of the covenant. And above it were the cherub beam of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.
But of these things we cannot now speak in detail. In other words, there was such comprehensive detail that when they came to make exactly what God specified, they did it with such care. That's the idea of Noah building an 18,000-ton boat. You'd think he'd just get some scraps, you know.
Just put the thing together, staples, scotch tape. We're going to make it. God will take care of us.
Absolutely not. He built that ark in such a way that the same word is used that means he comprehensively obeyed every detail. Nothing was lost.
Would you go back in your imagination. I just hear a neighbor now coming along, and I'm sure he had them coming all the time. This was the eighth wonder of the ancient world. This was on the tour maps of all the people in that area. They had to see this thing Noah was building.
I can just hear the neighbors. What's your building, Noah? Building an ark. What's an ark? Well, I won't know until I finish it.
I've never seen one before. Why are you building it, Noah? It's going to rain. What's rain, Noah? Well, I don't know. I haven't seen it yet. What's an ark do, Noah?
I do know that. It floats on water. Floats on water. Noah, the nearest body of water, the Mediterranean Sea is 500 miles away. You missed it by a few miles.
Wait, did you say it floats like a boat? Let me see the specs to that thing, and I can just see, you know, the neighbor, well, Noah wrote it all down on the clay tablet. He didn't want to miss a thing, and this guy probably picks it up. Who gave you these things? God did. A lot God knows about building boats. He's left some things out.
He did? Like what? Well, there's no mention here of sails or any oars. How are you going to move this thing?
Never thought about that. And also, you're missing probably the most important thing to a boat. That's a rudder. No mention of a rudder here. How are you going to steer it? Where's the pilot's wheel?
Who's going to navigate this thing? Well, I guess God will. Oh, and I suppose you've seen him too. No, I've never seen God. See, the reason I emphasize that particular point, because Hebrews 11 mentions that Noah believed things yet unseen. He'd never seen an ark. He'd never seen rain.
He'd never seen God. But a man of integrity, a woman of integrity, is more interested in obeying the voice of God than at times the voice of reason. Ladies, just imagine with me for a moment, how would you like to be married to a man who's considered the most eccentric, foolish man in the community?
Think of it. I mean, just imagine Mrs. Noah going to the marketplace and all the ladies coming up now, you dear, poor soul. I'm sure you don't go along with that basket case of a husband, you poor thing. Kids, how would you like it if your dad was known as the biggest loser in the community? You'd want to disown him, right?
Oh, what, unless you shared his cause. And they did, because chapter 7, verse 1 says, Then the Lord said to Noah, Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you I have seen to be righteous before me in this time. Well, the ark is finished, and I know you're familiar with the story. They have finished perhaps even bringing the animals. They've come into the ark. And, you know, if I had been Noah, just about now, this is when I'd really get my digs in. I've been preaching for 120 years. Nobody's responded. I've been called a fool in every name in the book for 120 years.
My kids have been ridiculed, made fun of, my wife the same. Now's the chance! And yet, I would imagine Noah responding somewhat differently. I would imagine Noah, before he enters the ark, turning around. And I'm sure a crowd's gathered. You know, they've come to see this day. They've been hauling their luggage from their home, you know, into the ark.
They've come to watch. I would imagine that Noah would turn around. Now he's a sun-tanned man with deep lines in his face from hard labor. His hands are calloused. I would imagine for one more time he extended them and gave the invitation to enter the ark.
He might say something like, Don't you understand? Judgment's coming. Haven't you heard Methuselah died? We know from scientists and from mathematicians that the ark was only half full in their estimation. Half full. Room for hundreds, if not thousands, of people. You know how many people responded to his preaching, to his invitation, to his life? You know, the kind you're living? Zero.
A colossal failure. Why, he only had seven converts, his family members. That's one convert every 17 years.
Well, that's exciting. And yet God considered him a man of integrity. Not because people responded to his voice, but because he had responded to God's voice.
The third, integrity is patience in the midst of uncertainty. Would you read with me? Chapter 7, the first 10 verses. Then the Lord said to Noah, Enter the ark, you and all your household.
For you alone I have seen to be righteous performing in this time. You'll take now that you have every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female, and of the animals that are not clean, two. You need to understand now, all the animals aren't going in two by two. The clean animals are going in by sevens, the unclean by twos.
The reason for that is there would need to be animals for sacrifices. Also, the birds of the sky, verse 3, by sevens, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of the earth. For after seven, note the word after, underline it, for after seven more days I will send rain on the earth.
Forty days and forty nights, and I will blot out from the face of the land every living thing that I have made. And Noah did according to all that the Lord had commanded him. Now, Noah was 600 years old when the flood of water came upon the earth. Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with them entered the ark because of the water of the flood. Of clean animals and animals that are not clean, and birds and everything that creeps on the ground, there went into the ark to Noah by twos, male and female, as God had commanded him. Now, note verse 10. And it came about, there in the ark, after the seven days, that the water of the flood came upon the earth.
That's why I call this patience in the midst of uncertainty. I just want to say, hold on a second here. I cannot believe the obedience of Noah, the patience of Noah and his family. They've gotten everybody into the ark, and they're in there, surrounded by animals. And guess what happens for seven days? Absolutely nothing. The door is shut, got all the equipment, they're ready to float. No rain. I imagine after a day or two, the neighbors lose their uncertainty.
They get a little bit more bold. They wondered, is judgment coming? Now it's two days.
Nothing's happening. Now they're out at the ark barbecuing. One man said they're playing badminton, using the ark as the net. They're out there having a great time, hollering, hey, Noah, you still in there? Noah's, I just imagine scratching his head. Lord, is this some kind of sham?
Where's the rain? Yet there's no record of that, although he was confused and uncertain. No record that he ever questioned God. My friend's integrity believes God even when it seems ridiculous.
You and I want integrity as long as it makes us look respectable. Noah was willing to follow integrity even when it made him look ridiculous. Don't read with me chapter 7, verse 17 to the end. Then the flood came after seven days. And I think it's probably God's way of just saying, look, I'm going to give mankind seven more days to repent.
Because when all the generations read of my judgment, they're going to know that I was so patient with man, I gave him every opportunity and he would not repent. So after the seven days, the floods came and covered the earth for 40 days and the water increased, lifted up the ark so that it rose above the earth. The water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth and the ark floated on the surface of the water and the water prevailed more and more upon the earth so that all the high mountains everywhere, this is a universal flood, not a local flood, everywhere under the heavens were covered. The waters prevailed 15 cubits higher and the mountains were covered with water and all the flesh that moved on the earth perished, bird, cattle, beast, swarming thing that swarms upon the earth and all mankind and all that was on the dry land, all in his nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life died. Thus he blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky and they were blotted out from the earth and only Noah was left together with those that were with him in the ark and the water prevailed upon the earth 150 days. You need to understand that Noah and his family will float in this thing for over a year. This isn't a weekend trip.
This is a year plus. And when the ark finally grounds on top of one of the ridges in the mountain ranges of Ararat, God didn't tell Noah, all right, now here's all the details of how you begin. God never told Noah what life would be like after the flood.
He never even told Noah how long he'd float. Noah's sending out a dove, you know, to look for some kind of dry land. Noah's so patient, he sends out a dove and waits seven days.
I would have been sending out doves every 30 minutes. What a patient man. In the midst of uncertainty, he was a man of integrity.
Now let me give you the fourth. Integrity is worship in the midst of difficulty. Worship in the midst of difficulty. Would you notice chapter 8 verse 14? And in the second month, on the 27th day of the month, the earth was finally dry. Then God spoke to Noah, and up until now it's been silence. Then God spoke to Noah, saying, go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons' wives with you, bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds, animals, creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly on the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth. So Noah went out and his sons and his wives and his sons' wives with them, every beast and creeping thing, and Noah kind of threw his arms out and said, finally, this is over.
Lord, never put me through that again. Noah says in verse 20, then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took of every clean animal and every clean bird and offered burnt offerings. The first thing Noah did was lead his family in worship.
Boy, what a confusing year for him, a year of silence from God, a year of uncertainty, a year of tremendous difficulty, and yet he worships God. And God responds in chapter 9 by establishing the Noahic covenant, a covenant that will change some of the things on planet earth. One of the things will be that animals now will be in terror and fear of mankind.
Man and beast will now be carnivorous. But the beautiful thing about the Noahic covenant that you and I well know is the establishment of the rainbow is the sign of the covenant, whereby God says every time you look up in the heavens, and you and I, by the way, see the evidence of the Noahic covenant as well, the earth will never be covered again by water. The unbeliever says, well, you know, that's great. Noah's a wonderful man, and he lived in a wicked world, but there isn't any need for Noahs today. God's judgment is not coming today. Would you turn with me quickly to 2 Peter chapter 3? Get beyond Hebrews where you were to 2 Peter. 2 Peter chapter 3, verse 3, sinful man refuses, talk of judgment. But I want you to note what the scriptures clearly state.
2 Peter 3, 3, know this, first of all, that in the last days, that's in our generation, our day, our age of grace, in the last days of that age, mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation. For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice, that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But the present heavens and the present earth by his word are being reserved for what kind of judgment? Fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. See verse 12 down there. Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning and the elements will melt with intense heat.
Just as certainly as God kept his word and the flood came, and he gave mankind centuries to believe through the preaching of Enoch and Noah, so he has given us a day of grace to believe. But judgment is also coming. How's it coming this time? Fire. How's that going to happen?
Who knows? They ask the same thing about the water, and yet it came. Let me give you two obvious parallels between Noah's ark and Christ, and this is a sermon in itself, a wonderful illustration and picture of salvation.
The first thing is this. God designed the ark. Man didn't design it.
God did. It was his plan of salvation to all those who would enter in. What is the ark of salvation today? All those who are in who?
Christ Jesus. There is now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. Romans chapter 8 verse 1. The second thing, obvious parallel, is that the ark only had one door.
Just one door. Jesus would say in John chapter 10 verse 9, Behold, I am the door. If any man will enter through me, he shall be saved. If you're a believer, it's possible in this corrupt generation to be a person of integrity.
But it'll take a pursuit of Jesus Christ as Lord, and that pursuit will develop in you. Purity in the midst of immorality. Obedience in the midst of ridicule. Patience in the midst of uncertainty.
Worship in the midst of difficulty. Know how we need men, women, young people today of integrity. Over 35 years ago, when Stephen Davey first delivered these messages, the principles we learned were true.
And they're just as true today, aren't they? I'm glad you've joined us here on Wisdom for the Heart. We're working our way through a series from our Vintage Wisdom archives entitled Origins. It's Stephen's exposition of Genesis chapters 1 through 11.
We have one more lesson to go in this series, and that'll be next time. In the meantime, I want to make sure you know that we have a Bible study guide that goes along with this series. A book that's also called Origins.
If you'd like to dive a little deeper into this study, you'll find this book in our online store at wisdomonline.org. Or you can call us today for information about how you can get a copy of the Bible study guide entitled Origins. The number here in our office is 866-48-BIBLE. That's 866-482-4253. When you call, be sure and ask how you can receive our Heart to Heart devotional magazine. We'd be happy to send you a few issues to preview for yourself. That number once again is 866-48-BIBLE, and I hope we hear from you. I also hope you'll be with us next time as Stephen brings you more wisdom for the heart. Thank you for watching.
