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just. The chapter also begins with a reference to `false prophets', and there are many
such in the world today; it continues (verse 10 on) with walking `after the flesh in the
lust of uncleanness', it makes reference also to `the way of Balaam': immorality,
rebellion and corruption. In such a situation Noah became a herald of righteousness.
Like many another of those called of God, Noah was called to what someone has
called `a ministry of failure'. For all his faithful proclamation of righteousness, not one
took heed to his message. Only Noah and his immediate family were saved from the
judgment of the deluge. Because he was called to `a ministry of failure', he was called to
a ministry of faithfulness. As a result he `became heir of the righteousness which is by
faith'. "Through faith Noah . . . . . became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."
Should not those who by faith have inherited righteousness be faithful?
Seldom, if ever before, has there been a time like the present to parallel the days of
Noah. Yet the time was foreseen by the Lord, "As it was in the days of Noah . . . . .". So
also Paul spoke of the days leading up to those of which our Lord spoke.
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (demons); speaking lies in
hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry and
commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with
thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth" (I Tim. 4: 1-3).
Some shall depart from, stand aloof or withdraw from the faith; some will not remain
faithful in the difficult `latter times'. They will give heed to seducing spirits: seducing is
the Greek word planos, wandering, straying. Perhaps this gives greater significance to
the A.V. `seducing' in the light of `the angels which kept not their first estate', but
wandered, or strayed from it, taking wives from among the daughters of men.
Similarly in II Tim. 3: Paul emphasizes the dangers of `the last days', for they shall
be `perilous times' of great apostasy. Verse 8 has a salutory warning in the reference to
"Jannes and Jambres" who withstood Moses. These are the names of the magicians who
counterfeited the signs performed by Moses before Pharaoh. Just as these apostates will
resist the truth. There will be counterfeit signs and wonders performed by some (at least)
of those who stand aloof from the faith. They do not necessarily deny the faith; the
situation is more perilous than that, for they have `a form of godliness, but denying the
power thereof'. This is reinforced by Paul's statement to the Thessalonians concerning
the coming of `that day' and the presence (parousia) of the man of sin `whose coming is
after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness' (II Thess. 2: 9, 10).
Noah's calling, with his faithfulness in days of great moral laxity and spiritual
corruption, with his faithfulness in heralding righteousness, and in his faithful obedience
to the will of God for him, speaks to us, living, as we do, in days of great similarity to
those in which Noah lived. Should not we, in our great calling, seek to be spiritually
without blemish among our contemporary believers, habitually walking worthily before
God, remaining faithful in what might appear to some to be God's delay, being heralds of
the righteousness which is to be found in Christ alone? There may be little response to