The sixth chapter of Genesis states that God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt and all flesh was corrupt before him. So God told Noah, it was time for God to put an end to all flesh (every living human, every land animal, and even the birds of the air). Now one may wonder, why did God have to put an end to the other land creatures and the birds of the air? Man’s willful sin and disobedience against God had consequences. Man was made with the Spirit of God to reign within him for he was made a living soul (Genesis 2:7), but with the lust of his flesh, the lust of his eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16), he sinned and had inherited death, becoming corrupt. Man’s corruption was not limited to just mankind and his willful disobedience (sin) brought about a curse. Not only was the ground curse on account of man, but the Bible tells us that against their will, all of creation was subject to God’s curse; to corruption, i.e., to die and decay (Romans 8:20). So in a sense, the do-over of all of God’s land creation was in essence, God’s act of mercy to free the groaning creation from death and decay (Romans 8:22). All flesh must die, so that the corruptible could be made back in the way, God had intended it to be, incorruptible.
Points to ponder:
There is a conflict between our flesh and the Spirit of God that reigns within us (Galatians 5:17). They are at war and the lust of our flesh leads to corruption and condemnation for the wages of sin is death (Romans 8:1). We need to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh but in order to live by the Spirit of God, as holy and righteous creatures, we need to mortify (put to death) the sinful things of the world that lurk within us (Colossians 3:5). If we live by the flesh, we shall die, but if we live by the Spirit, then we must through the Spirit of God, mortify the deeds of the body so that we shall live (Romans 8:13). In other words, all (of our) flesh must die (for the Spirit of God to reign in our life)! Are you dead or alive?
Genesis 6:11-13 (KJV)
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 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.
Romans 8:19-22 (NLT)
19. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.
20. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope,
21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
22. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Romans 8:13 (KJV)
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
