By Dr. Lawrence Butler, The Bridge Church, Pembroke.

“And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth” (Gen. 6:12-13). The awful depravity and wickedness of mankind brought God’s judgment on the world.

But, there is something else to think about. “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” (Matt.

5:13). Yes, surely the world was wicked, but where were the people of God? Where was their influence to hold back the forceful tide of sin?

Remember that ten righteous men could have saved Sodom, but only one was found. The salt character and influence of the people of God occurs only as the Holy Spirit uses them and works through them.

According to Genesis 4:26, men began to call upon the name of the Lord during the days of Seth, the third son of Adam. However, by the time of Genesis 6, sin was overwhelming men and women. The power of God can and will hold back the evil influence of sin, but only if men and women allow the Holy Spirit to work freely in them. Apparently this generation was seeking fleshly satisfaction and not the will of God. So intent were they on self-gratification that “…the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown” (Gen. 6:4).

Wicked people gave birth to wicked children, and the power of evil simply grew to the point of overwhelming those who might have wanted to hold on to God.

At this point, it appears that God was grieved so deeply that He was not happy He had even created man. “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart” (Gen 6:6). I not sure that I know of anything a person can do that is worse than grieving God at His heart.

Here is the next statement in Genesis 6: “And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them” (v.7). The decision was made, time was running out, and the Lord pronounced judgment.

Let us be warned. “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way” (II Thess, 2:7).

The church cannot lose its influence on the world.

We must fight until we are taken away!