God continued, saying, replenish in order, not in
chaos, be fruitful and multiply in all things, subdue, lead the
Kingdom, exercise dominion, rule as king and protect everything you are
responsible for.
It may surprise many to hear that Adam, the
patriarch, was still alive up until Lamech, the father of Noah, was
around 55 years old. And that Seth, Adam's son who inherited the
patriarchy, was still alive when Noah was born and died during Noah's
lifetime.
I believe that Adam and Seth held everything
together by teaching the generations after them what they had learned
from the Lord, including the importance of operating in good faith. But
when Seth died, this teaching evidently died with him and was no longer
taught nor enforced.
I believe that it was in the days of Noah, during
his lifetime, the five-hundred year period just prior to the flood,
that the concept of good faith broke down to the point that it became
"every man for himself" with no means of mutual agreement, trust or
relationship, resulting in continual warfare and strife. By the time
God asked Noah to build the Ark, the application of good faith had
completely broken down, resulting in God's decision to start over with
Noah.
Why is this important? Because Matthew 24:37 says
that when Jesus returns, the world will be just as it was in the days
of Noah and I believe that we are now seeing evidence all around us of
that same rapid breakdown of good faith.
The Noahic covenant or contract promised that
never again would a flood wipe out the earth's population. It
reestablished the agreement to rule and replenish - in order not to
have chaos, and reestablished dominion over all creation, including
fish, fowl, and everything that moved. But added that whereas only
fruits and herbs were to be eaten prior to the flood, now and in the
future everything that moved could be eaten as food. And the rainbow
was the seal of this covenant.
Secular history, legend and mythology paint a
collective picture of the patriarch Noah taking his covenant with God
very seriously by ruling his extended family throughout the regions of
the Mediterranean and Black Seas from his headquarters near what is now
Rome Italy, through a hierarchy of tribal chiefs, kings and a
priesthood headed by his son Shem.
Even though God reestablished good faith with Noah
and his sons after the flood, it seems not to have been fully
implemented until God reintroduced it to Abraham some ten generations
later.
When God made His promises to Abraham or at that
time Abram, He backed it to the hilt, putting His own name, reputation
and Godhead on the line saying, if I say, "Blessings!" then most
assuredly I will bless thee, and if I say, "Increase by
multiplication!" then most assuredly I will increase everything you
have by multiplication and after Abraham had patiently waited, he did
obtain the promise (Hebrews 6:13-15 TGV).
You're just foolish if you don't acknowledge all
of the legal evidence that Jesus Christ was executed by crucifixion,
just because some among you say something different. Did you receive
the Holy Spirit by an act of legislation or in good faith? Were you
made whole again physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, or
socially through what you can detect through your own five senses? The
one that administered the Holy Spirit to you and operated in the
supernatural among you, did he do it by an act of legislation or just
offer it to you in good faith?
Just as Abraham entered into a good faith
relationship with the Lord, it was credited to his account as
righteousness or as recognition of a personal relationship. Understand,
therefore that:
1. They, which are of good faith, are children or
followers of His example.
2. The written record, foreseeing that the Lord
would make provision for the non-Hebrews to have this same personal
relationship and access through good faith articulated this good news,
even back then to Abraham. He said, because of you, Abraham, all
nations will now have the opportunity to be blessed. Therefore, all
whom are practitioners of good faith, even to this day, are blessed
through Abraham's good faith. Through you, Abraham, all nations shall
be blessed (Galatians 3:1-6 TGV).
In part 2, we will explore the life of Abraham and
shine some light on his background to more appreciate what he left
behind and the magnitude of his utter dependence upon his good faith
contract with the Lord. TGM
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