Are you that one person?

“The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.” (Genesis 6:5 NIV)

And indeed, at that moment, God decided to destroy mankind. Oh, what a sad beginning. The Lord was troubled. As I’m reading this, I’m thinking, “No, dear God, I’m so sorry! What can I do to make the situation better?”

And, I think that’s exactly the right approach. Not to ask, “How can I save the world, change the world?” and also not to constantly whine, “Why is everything so terrible in the world?” but to start with ourselves.

Let me explain this with an example. I go to the dermatologist regularly. And almost two years ago, during a routine checkup, a mole was discovered that could have been life-threatening. How glad I am that I take these medical visits seriously and always have myself checked out before it’s too late.

In the same way we should also examine our hearts before God, asking Him to show us if anything has nested there that makes Him sad.

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)

Let’s follow up the story from Genesis. God wanted to destroy the earth. “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6:8 NIV)

God saved the one person who was obedient to Him. God took pleasure in the one person who listened to Him. Does this resonate with you as it does with me? Don’t you want to be that one person that God sees among all the evil on earth and still serves Him in the midst of that chaos?

His commission to you is: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:7-9-10 NIV)

Now this is very bold, but are you, at the end of this week, ready to say, yes, to pray: Whatever happens, I want to be one person who serves You!

You are a miracle!