Grace in a Corrupt Generation

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”

Genesis 6:8-9 KJV

It can be discouraging to watch wrongdoing become ordinary. After a while, a person may begin to think that faithfulness is impossible unless the whole neighborhood changes. Noah lived in a generation marked by corruption, yet Scripture describes him as walking with God. The condition around him did not remove his responsibility before the Lord.

Read the passage carefully

The passage first tells us that Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. We should keep that truth beside the description of his character. Noah did not become a man who had no need of mercy. The later account of his life makes that plain. His upright conduct belonged to a relationship with God in a world that had turned toward violence. Grace and a faithful walk fit together. Grace cannot be used as permission to join the corruption it delivers us from.

I may have limited influence over the direction of a workplace or community. I still make choices about my own words, habits, and loyalties. It is possible to refuse a dishonest shortcut without acting superior to the people taking it. It is possible to live differently while remembering that I also depend upon God's mercy. Pride would spoil the very testimony I hope to give.