HARD TIMES WHERE FEW SEEK GOD
In the Bible, we have numerous cases of difficult times for believers in God. Often, we find ourselves in a society that accepts and normalizes sin, making it difficult to find people who think according to the Bible. In today’s times, the worldly trend accepts sin and criminalizes what is holy. (Living together, drugs, adultery, witchcraft, abortion, homosexual marriage, euthanasia, etc.) Beware, if someone “opines” differently about fornication, abortion, or euthanasia, they face true persecution. In the word of God, we find the following:
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (Character of men in the last days).
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20
However, we are in the times of grace, and the Lord is with us so that we may do good works.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
If we are in the ways of God and He asks us to work and proclaim the gospel, we have great promises. Moreover, if we act (do works), our faith will grow.
“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:17
NOAH’S CASE
One of the most impressive cases in the Bible is the story of Noah. Noah lived in days of great apostasy. However, Noah chose to work for God in a time of great moral darkness, very similar to our days.
READ: Genesis 6:1-8 The wickedness and judgment of men
Noah testified while building the ark of God, while the men of his time resisted, and he received great blessing.
“who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.” 1 Peter 3:20
HOW NOAH BEHAVED
1. He must have had many voices speaking of other ways in a world that had normalized sin.
“Then God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.‘” Genesis 6:13
2. Obeying the voice of God even when it seems contrary to human logic.
At that time, there had never been rain, but a mist rose from the earth. (Genesis 2:6 “but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.”) And it was unimaginable that there would be a flood and that it would be universal, flooding the whole earth. But nevertheless, Noah believed and obeyed:
“Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.” Genesis 6:22
Many times, they tell us that we are crazy for thinking differently from others. Even the Lord Jesus Christ was treated as crazy. We have 4 verses that indicate how to the rest of the world we are like crazy:
“Many of them said, ‘He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?‘” John 10:20
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18-19
“But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,” 1 Corinthians 1:23
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14
“Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, ‘Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!‘” Acts 26:24
3. The work of faith is to do the will of God even when others do not fulfill it.
Perhaps there may be no other believer in our office, university, school, or family, and that makes our position more unique or ridiculous. Let’s think that Noah was also alone in his time. The true people of God have always been a minority even within the Jewish people; few were those who truly sought God.
ELIJAH
“So he said, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.’” 1 Kings 19:14
DANIEL
“Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants…” Daniel 1:3
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.” Daniel 1:8-9
“Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” Psalms 40:4
4. The work of faith is to continue acting according to God, despite opposition.
No one doubts that Noah must have encountered opposition and discouraging advice (which would become temptations) to leave his ridiculous work. Building an ark when it had never rained.
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
“Living by Faith. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9
5. The work of faith is to accept God’s verdict without doubting.
The judgment seemed very severe or exaggerated because it encompassed all living beings.
“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.” Romans 11:22
“The wise man’s eyes are in his head, But the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived That the same event happens to them all.” Ecclesiastes 2:14
“Everything happens alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.” Ecclesiastes 9:2-3
Even within a marriage or family, there are some who believe and others who do not.
“But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Job 2:10
“For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’” Matthew 10:35-36
6. The work of faith is to proclaim God’s message.
Proclaiming a severe message is not easy. People want to hear things that interest them; they do not want to be spoken to about judgments or punishments. Therefore, God’s message will not always be accepted. There were two alternatives: 1) Enter the ark and be saved, or 2) Stay outside and receive the judgment that would come. Now in these times, Jesus did not indicate the same:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” Matthew 7:13
“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32
7. The work of faith is to ask God to increase our faith and wisdom.
Prayer and conversing with God are key points in our entire journey of faith.
“Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”” Mark 9:21
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8
8. God’s Rewards
Finally, we must be clear that as we do the will of God, we will receive great reward. Throughout the Bible, we see how God greatly blesses those who do His will.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7
“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” John 16:23 (NKJV)
“He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant.” Psalms 111:5
“As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.” Psalms 103:13
“For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.” Psalms 103:11
“So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.'” Acts 16:31
“I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.” Psalms 37:25
CONCLUSION
Dear reader, seek a church where holiness and the pursuit of God from the heart are prioritized. Look for a church where people adhere to the word of God faithfully.
