If you have ever tried to swim against the tide, you know how difficult it is. The tide wants to pull you in its direction no matter how hard you try to swim. In fact, it can be dangerous to try. The pull of the tide is a lot like the pull of the world on our lives. The values, priorities, sinful practices and philosophies of our day are like a powerful force pulling us in its direction. But we need not be pulled by the tides around us. I am always encouraged by the stories in Scripture of real people who face real problems with all the same personal issues that we have and yet swam against the tide of their day.

One of those was Noah. This is what Scripture says about his day: “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” - Genesis 6:5-8

Of all the people on the face of the earth, there was one man and one family who found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Think about being in the minority - yet they swam against the tide. Here is how Noah is described in Genesis 6:10:  “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” What does it mean to be righteous? It is to walk with God. That is a beautiful description of what God desires from us. That we simply walk with Him and in His ways. 

Sometimes we over complicate our faith. As John wrote in 1 John 2:5-6, “But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” What does God want from us today? To walk with Him and to follow His direction for our lives whether in our relationships, financial decisions, our families, marriages or work. To simply walk with Him. In doing so, like Noah, we show our love for Him.

Noah was not a perfect man, but he walked with God and was called righteous by God. He wanted what God wanted and he alone in his generation swam against the tide. Even when God told him to build the ark, where there was no water, and a big ark at that, Noah simply followed God’s instructions to the laughter of those around him. He didn’t care what others thought but only what God thought. Looking foolish for the sake of God was fine with him. He knew that he answered to an audience of One.

Today, simply concentrate on walking with God. Be aware of God in all that you do and God will bless you as He did Noah.

Father, my heart desires to walk with You and to swim against the tide of unrighteousness in our day. Remind me often of the picture of simply walking through my day with You and in the power of the Holy Spirit, help me to please You in all that I do. Amen.