This was first delivered as a speech to a graduating ministry class on December 1, 2009.
What is character? According to the dictionary, character means 1. a distinctive trait; 2. behavior typical of a person or group; 3. moral strength; 4. reputation.
Character is an evaluation of a particular individual’s moral qualities. It can also imply a variety of attributes including the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty and loyalty, or of good behaviors or habits. When someone is a moral character, it is primarily referring to the qualities that distinguish one individual from another.
When we watch a movie or read a book we usually think of the characters. Even though sometimes the character is complex most of the time they tend to be usually good or bad. Even in the early days of the western, you could tell the characters by the color of their outfits and hats. Although we tend to support the good character and cheer them on as they go about their lives. We want to see them succeed. But in real life character is much more complicated. We are all an array of good and bad character traits. We need to make a conscience decision to do what is right. Depending on your choices, we are either rewarded or have to pay the consequences.
When we think of someone with good character we can find many who fit the bill. One of the men I think about is Noah. Noah was a man who God chose as being a person of good character. Noah was a just man. He was righteous in conduct and character. He was a man vindicated by God. He was also able to maintain his integrity as he was being ridiculed by his peers. He was a role model for them and by being a man of good standing and did not waiver in his conviction, God protected Noah and his family.
The character of Noah is described in Genesis 6:9 where three things are told us about him: “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” First, he was “just.” He is the first man so called, though not the first man who was.
The honorable ground of justification is the Blood of Christ (Rom. 5:9); the instrumental cause is faith (Rom. 5:1). The just shall live by faith, hence we find Noah among the fifteen believers mentioned in the great faith chapter (Heb. 11). The faith by which Noah was justified before God was evidenced by him being” moved with fear” and in his obedience to the Divine command to build the ark. Second, he was “perfect in his generations.” Third, he “walked with God.” It is only as we walk with God that we are kept from the evil around us.
Noah’s character contrasts with the world he lived in. (Gen 6:8-9) states “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. In the midst of an immoral society, Noah stood out.
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. This is the first thing that is told us about Noah and the first time the word “grace” is used in the Bible and Noah did not earn God’s blessing — he was given God’s favor. Without grace Noah could not have been saved from the destruction of the world. God’s grace benefited Noah. First, God revealed His intentions to Noah (Gen 6:13,17).
Grace is the foundation of every life that is well-pleasing to God. Grace is the source from which issues every blessing we receive. It was the grace of God and not the graces of Noah which preserved him from a watery grave. It was when the sin of man had reached its climax that grace was exercised and displayed, as if to teach us from the beginning, that it is nothing within man which calls forth the bestowment of God’s favors.
But Noah was a man living in a world of wickedness, where “all fleshhad corrupted his way on the earth.” Here was a man who was compelled to set his face against the whole current of public opinion and conduct. What a testimony to the sufficiency and keeping power of Divine grace!
Second, God gave commands to Noah that, if he obeyed, would save him and his family (Gen 6:14-16). Third, God promised Noah salvation from the flood (Gen 6:18). The grace extended by God was not “cheap grace,” but included hard work by man in obeying God. Also, careful attention to detail to what God had said and how He had said it was essential. We are living in a world where folks have disregarded God’s details; such action is not the means of obtaining the grace of God. Further, the complete judgment of God against all that was evil and sinful is expressed. Noah trusted God. In so doing, Noah stood alone in grace and favor with God.
Noah was a just man. To be “just” means to live a righteous life and to treat others in a fair and just way, despite the circumstances. It means to be upright, honest, and virtuous, never to cheat or steal from others. Noah lived a just and moral life both before God and man. Noah’s righteousness exceeded that of the people. In (Matthew 5:20) it says “For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Noah’s mindset was to do only that which God wanted him to do. He allowed God’s standards to affect and direct his life. Noah was unafraid to live differently from the status quo. What a lesson for us Christians! The child of God is to live that holy and just life that is different from the world as we see in (1 John. 2:15-17) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.
Noah was a perfect man. The Hebrew word for perfect is to be without blemish or to be blameless, to be moral, a person of purity, of integrity, of honesty; to be whole and complete. Not that he was sinless but that there were no blatant faults. We see that in (Gen. 9:24) And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
He was a man of moral integrity among his generation. In that godless society, no one had any charges against Noah. We can conclude that he had a good relationship with his friends and neighbors. No one wondered if Noah was dealing honestly with them. They knew his ethics were solid. They may have questioned his sanity, but not his heart. Jesus expects His church to be perfect (blameless) when He delivers it to God the Father, “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).
Noah walked with God. Noah’s conduct and his walk of life are emphasized. The same thing was recorded about Enoch; it is the essential element we need. Noah’s walk with God was threefold. First, it was a walk that continued individually. Second, it was a walk that preserved a family. Third, it was a walk in contrast to the disobedient world. The present generation could use a change of heart so we can walk with God instead of walking with the world. It requires a change of attitude. The imaginations and thoughts of the heart cannot be evil continually while yet we expect to walk in God’s favor. We must have a walk of life that corresponds with our profession.
Note that when the Christian walks with God, it is also a circumspective walk. In (Eph 5:11-16) states “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
The circumspective walk of the child of God is about an awareness of one’s surroundings. Christians should behave like Noah by walking with God through a very dark and dying world.
How can we find grace in the eyes of God? By being just, perfect, and walking with God. Character does matter with God! May we be encouraged by the example and life of Noah.
Noah’s sphere of influence?
When defining leadership, many people have used the definition “Leadership is influence.” Every leader has a sphere of influence, people to whom their influence is direct and an extended sphere of influence where their influence is transferred through the next generation. According to Genesis 6:9 God chose Noah to be an influence of an entire world starting over because “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time and he walked with God.” Read Genesis 6-11.
Just a glimpse at Noah’s sphere of influence comes when we understand a few facts about Noah’s life.
Noah influenced God. God was making a decision concerning the total destruction of His creation and in Genesis 6 “The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth …So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe out mankind, whom I have created,’ …But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” The way Noah lived his life being “… blameless before men and walking with God” influenced God to not totally “… wipe out mankind.”
Noah had influence to those around him before the flood. Again according to Genesis 6 when describing those outside of Noah’s family God said of men “… every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” For Noah to remain “… blameless among men” in this environment he had influence. For Noah’s family not to have been killed or outcasts but for other men to consider him blameless – Noah had influence.
Noah had the rare opportunity to personally influence every human being born on the face of the earth right up to Abraham. According to Genesis 9:28 “After the flood Noah lived 350 years” and according to the account of the descendants of one of Noah’s son Shem in Genesis 11:10-28 Abraham was born approximately 292 years after the flood. Abraham could have been 52 years old when Noah died.
Every leader has a sphere of influence. Every leader has influence up, to their peers, and down to those on their team. If God allowed Noah to influence Him, his peers and 10 generations after him, something about Noah had to be special. That something according to Genesis 6 was Noah’s character.
How are you doing at building your character at the same time you are building your influence? Effective leaders know that character is the most important element in leadership.
A quote by an author unknown says, “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”
Once your character has been destroyed how long do you think it would take for others to trust you again? Would your character ever be totally repaired? Would there always be a hint of question surrounding you?
Remember when dealing with others keep your character intact. Also, remember the true test of character is what you do when no one is watching you. Do you act the same way when you are alone as you do when you are with others. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
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