Genesis Six has one of the biggest buts in the Bible.

God was sorry that He had made man. He was grieved in his heart. Think about that. God was sorry he had made man. ouch.

So the Lord decides to destroy man. He decides to wipe out everyone because they’re so wicked. And not just destroy the human race, but even the birds and animals too. He’s just gonna take it all out.

But Noah…

Wow. Thanks to Noah you and I are here today. Seriously. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. He was a just man, perfect in his generations. You see, Noah walked with God.

He wasn’t the head professor at his seminary. He didn’t have a big ministry. He isn’t mentioned as having any “leadership” characteristics at all. He was just a guy who lived a holy life.

Time. Words. Eyes. Money. Prayer. These things really do matter. And how can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to the Word. By hiding it in his heart so he won’t sin. Our souls cling to the dust, but God can and will revive us according to His word.

Tomorrow, Anna and I leave for Colorado for a short Christmas vaecay. And one of the things I am really looking forward to over our time away is re-assessing my routine for 2008.

I want to take a good hard look at my schedule and shine up some of the rough edges. Also I want spend some time in prayer regarding our finances. I want 2008 to be the most generous year we have ever had. I want to really have grace from God to give extravagantly to the Kingdom of God.

I want to make deeper resolves to live in holiness and purity with my eyes and my speech. I want my eyes to be opened up to see wondrous things from the Word of God and I want my words to bring exhortation, comfort and strength to others.

I also want 2008 to be a year of deep conversion and deep prayer in my spirit. I want my inner man to experience the depths of Jesus Christ in a new way.

A few weeks ago on a Sunday morning Mike was sharing about old folks in the faith (40s, 50s, and up). We always assume that when men and women are in love with Jesus when they’re older it’s simply by virtue of just being a Christian for a long time. Having maturity and tenderness comes naturally by logging in hours as a professing Christian. But now that Mike is an older folk, he knows that is most certainly not true. In fact, it’s more of a miracle when older men and women of the faith are still alive in God and tender towards the Bible.

As we live our life there are so many opportunities to backslide. Day after day presents new options for sinning, as evil men invent new ways to give themselves to lawlessness. And as lawlessness abounds, the love of many will grow cold.

At the still relatively young age of 26 I am resolved in my heart of hearts to be a man of the Word all the days of my life. And that means drawing lines that other people are not drawing. It means an 70 hour work week. It means not eating a few days a week. It means not going to see movies that everyone else is. It means sticking with the Word when its dry and boring to me.

There is a day coming, and even is now upon us now that the intent of men will be evil and wickedness continually. And God will be looking for friends. Not smart guys. Not suave leaders. Friends. And when he does I want Him to find me. I want to be a big but.