There is a saying that If we don’t learn from our mistakes, we will live through them again.  Well I read a devotional this morning that vividly brings that into perspective; Genesis 6:5-8, 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.  

Let’s keep in mind here that in God’s story of His World, this takes place in only the sixth chapter of the first Book of the Bible, roughly 1,500 years!  Already the human race that God created was totally corrupt and wicked, with the exception of eight people that found favor with God.  Noah and his family unit were found to be the only righteous among them; it states that Noah walked with God.  

As you read the story of this ship builder, you see that it took over 100 years to build the ark and throughout that time Noah preached about the approaching flood and the need for their repentance, to no avail.  They were all enjoying the life of fun today, we’ll do it tomorrow.  And we all heard before that, tomorrow never comes.  

If you stop and think of what kind of corruption and evil was rampant during that time, and compare it to what is going on in the world today, you can only end up being thankful that God is patient.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, 2Peter 3:9.  

It is interesting to not only notice that the entire population was destroyed in the flood, but also to see that only eight had found favor with God.  So, how do we find favor with God?  No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 Our daily mindset should be focused on what matters; not only in this life, but in the life to come.  “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”, Romans 8:6.  God gave humans a mind that is governed by free will.  That is a dangerous combination when you consider that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  That is why it takes work and study to keep our minds on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phil. 4:8