We All Fall

"Noah began to be a man of the soil and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent." Genesis 9:20-21

It always strikes me that after reading the four chapter account of Noah--hearing of the righteousness accredited to him by his faith in building the ark, the great patience of Noah, the covenant God makes with Noah concerning destruction of mankind--the last impression we are left with of Noah is him drunk and passed out naked in his tent. It is too often we idolize the great righteous men and women of our days as perfect and forget that even great men are far from perfect. Noah wasn't righteous because he did everything right all the time, he was righteous because of His faith. God's righteousness is different from man's righteousness, it is built by faith acting through works, not a strict adherence to social mores.

Let us praise God that righteousness comes by grace through faith and give us the grace to deal with each other in understanding and mercy!