Full disclosure: I love to save remnants, those little pieces of fabric that aren’t large enough for the main project, but just large enough for something smaller. I’m pretty sure I got this habit from my mom. Probably the only difference between her pile of remnants and mine is, her pile could fill a room, while mine is limited to a single container. When they overflow the container, it’s time to find a use for them. My latest project has been making children’s frog-shaped pillows.

Remnants can be meaningless scraps that are tossed away or the beginnings of something greater. In Biblical terms it references what is left of a population after a catastrophe. When Noah and his family boarded the ark, they became the remnant of the human race. When the Jews were taken captive, a remnant was always left, therefore the Jews were never extinguished. In the worst of times, God always recognized and preserved a small population who were faithful to His truths.

Imagine being Noah as he built the ark. Some scholars estimate it took him around seventy years. I wonder how many times Noah felt alone, confused, or unsure as the 25,000+ days passed; or how often he heard disparaging words, even from people who loved him. To have even completed the task, his faith in God had to have a stick-to-it-ness like most of us can’t even imagine. Because of it, Noah and his family were saved as God’s remnant to repopulate the earth.

Today we are assaulted with agendas and propaganda that leave us feeling confused, unsure, and sometimes alone. The only certainty we have is God’s Word, which provides clear direction and guidance.

We are all sinners. We all fail, myself included. Except for the blood of Christ, we’d all be lost. In the chaos of this life, it is easy to become deceived, and forget it is our faith in God and His Word that sets us apart. We must be willing to stand on God’s Word, not man’s opinion. We must stand for His truths by protecting the unborn and defending the sacredness of marriage. We must be prepared to call out sin with grace, even if it is perceived as intolerant. It’s about honoring God’s Word, which stands way above public opinion and political agendas.

There is always a remnant. We can choose to be a useless scrap or a remnant of loyalty, shaped by His hands, disciplined by His Holy Spirit, and useful for His purposes. I want to be counted as a Noah who remained devoted to God’s Word, even in the face of criticism and unpopular opinion.

God’s Word has never changed. His love has never changed. His sacrifice has never changed. He is looking for the Noahs of this generation who are loyal to Him and His Word so that humanity will once again seek Him, the Holy One.

“Then the Lord said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.”Genesis 7:1 (ESV).