Within a Hand's Reach - jan 3

Genesis 6-8
Luke 3

Luke 3:9,10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?"

Genesis 6:7,8 So the Lord said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them. But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

It is perhaps one of the most tragic passages in all of scripture, when God is sorry for making man. What must a child do in order to make a parent repent for giving that child life? But mankind had reached that point. The human condition apart from God is of all things most vile. It lustfully drinks full of degradation, and quickly devolves into self-destruction.

By God's grace, Noah built an ark. God wanted to offer the people a plan of salvation. He longed for obedience and repentance. He desired an excuse to reveal His mercy, even as He would, years later, in Ninevah. But while the plan of salvation was slowly constructed for all to see, Noah's generation instead decided to harden their hearts. Whether it was affection for sin or faith in the apathy of God that caused Noah's to turn a deaf ear, it is not certain. However what is certain, is that whatever their reasons may have been, those reasons perished with them. It is likely that many perished within a hand's reach of salvation.

God created man with a plan and a purpose. Noah's generation had moved so far away from that plan, that they no longer served any purpose and as a result only brought grief to their Father. This in many ways was the message of John the Baptist. He declared to His generation that God had given them a plan of salvation, and that this plan was beginning to unfold right before their eyes. However, in order to partake of this gift it was requisite that they return to plans and purposes that God had designed them for.

There's little doubt that many scoffed at John's message and proceeded to continue on, on their path to self-destruction. However, scripture records for us that at least some asked, "What then shall we do?" John's answer was manifested through baptism. Instead of waters immersing the earth to remove evil people, the people were immersed beneath the water to remove the evil. It was a picture of repentance.

Our generation, once again, lives within hand's reach of God's plan for salvation. Yet again, too many choose to perish in self-destruction rather than to embrace repentance. Noah did all that God commanded him to do and he pleased God. That is our divine purpose and the choice we are faced with.

Father,
Let me be always quick to repent. Let me always be fruitful to Your kingdom. Reveal Your divine will to me for each next step.