GOD’S PRESENCE OR HIS PRESENTS?

In the book of Genesis chapter 16, we read the story of Noah. How he was told to build the arch by God so that him and his family might be saved. Noah did as he was told. Following the instruction to the minutest details. People made fun of him, laughed at him and thought he has gone out of his mind, but this did not deter Noah, his mind was focused. He had instructions from God and he was not going to compromise.

The work of building the ark was hard work. Yet Noah did it without complaining and he did it to Gods specification. Similarly, we are called by God to build the arch (our bodies which is his temple) to specific specifications. He demands holiness from us for he also is holy. This does not guarantee an easy life understood by all, but despite the jeers from those around us, we must live as per God’s specification. We may claim things have changed as well as lifestyles, we may look old fashioned to people around us, but the standards of God never changes. His specification for holiness remains the same.

After Noah was through building the arch, God sent the animals to Him two by two. I believe you don’t imagine Noah went to the forest, identifying ALL the animals, confirming they were male and female and brought them to the arch. He sure would have left so many of them out as I believe he did not know all animals created by God. But God called the animals and directed them to the arch.

What is God telling us here, going out to look for the animals is not our business.  Our business is to build the ark. Going out to look for blessings that God has promised us is not our work, he will call them to us, if we remain obedient to Him and faithful to what he created us for; living for and worshiping him. 

God is calling us to build an arch for Him yet we are busy looking for the animals to put inside an “unfinished arch”. I feel we have gotten it all wrong, let us learn to do first things first, seek first his kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto us. Much more that God’s presents, let us desires His presence in our lives.