One evening I was at the dining room table reading the story of Noah in Genesis chapters 6 and 7. I’ve read it before, but this time I noticed something was missing. I quickly turned back the page to read it again. After reviewing the chapters, I realized that there was something missing.
It was then I asked my wife if she remembered when God told Noah to preach to the people of his day and warn them of a great flood coming to the Earth, but they would not listen to him. They began to mock and ridicule Noah and his family. Well, of course she remembered that. She knew it as well as I did! There’s only one problem; it’s not in the Bible.
Now wait a minute. Don’t quit reading just yet. Noah certainly is in the Bible, and I believe every word of Genesis, even the flood that covered the entire earth. It’s the events surrounding that flood, what God actually spoke to Noah, and what Noah did, that we’re going to look into.
However, before going any further, let’s consider one very important lesson this brings up. It is often too easy to believe something to be in God’s word and therefore true when we have never actually read it for ourselves. At times, even when we do read the Bible we really don’t see what we’re reading. We can be blinded by what we know to be true, or rather what we think we know to be true. There are many teachings and beliefs that people hold onto without having searched it out in scripture. We can hear something so much that we will eventually believe it. Even if we choose not to believe it, if we hear something long enough it will influence the way we think. That’s why Jesus said in Mark chapter 4 verse 24, “Take heed what you hear.”
When it comes to God’s word there’s no substitute for breaking out the Bible and reading it for your self. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
The purpose of
the flood
We have heard for years about how Noah warned the people of a coming flood, and how they mocked him, but he kept on building. The truth is that’s not what happened and there’s a reason for that. First of all, let’s look at the Genesis account of the flood. In Genesis 6:7-8, The Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth: both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made
them.” (v.10) “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Then in verse 13 God says to 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.” In Genesis 6:17-18, God says, “And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and everything that is in the earth shall die. (v.18) But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thy sons, and thy wife, and thy son’s wives with thee.”
We see from these scriptures that God’s purpose for the flood was to destroy all flesh, and the purpose of the ark was to save Noah and his family. In fact God never told Noah to warn mankind, he told him to build an ark. He obeyed God and “…prepared an ark to the saving of his house”(Hebrews 11:7). God never intended for anyone else to enter that ark, except Noah and his family.
Second Peter 2:5 says that he was a “preacher of righteousness.” The purpose of the ark was not to save man but to preserve the righteousness of God on the earth. He, no doubt, spent years proclaiming the righteousness of God through his words and his life. That is probably why, when he obeyed God and built the ark, his family obeyed him and got on board.
It wouldn’t have been enough for Noah to warn, convince, or manipulate men to enter into the ark to escape the floodwaters. The decision was not the ark or the flood; the decision was righteousness or sin, and that choice had already been made long before the ark was built.
In Genesis 6:3 the Lord said, “my spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” Judgement came long before the rain fell. Noah was saved because he loved God, and was righteous in God’s eyes, not because he feared water.
If Noah would have convinced men that they could escape the drowning flood and filled the Ark with ungodly men that had no change in their hearts, not moved by God’s spirit but by fear, God would have had to sink the Ark and start over again. The purpose of the flood was to destroy the wicked from the earth, but Noah lived a righteous life and God honored his faithfulness and made a way for him and his family to be saved. So, we see that when God sent judgement and condemned sin in the world, he found a righteous man and saved him and his family.
Let’s leave Noah for now and look at another man. In Genesis chapter 19 God pronounced his fierce judgement on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. You may know the story of how Abraham talked with God and began what sounded like the auction of the ages. Abraham compelled God not to destroy the cities if he found 50, 40, and finally 10 righteous people. Then in Genesis 19:15-16 the Bible says,
“…And the angels hastened Lot, saying, “Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. (v.16) And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hands of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.” God saved Lot and his family. When God sent judgment because of sin he found a righteous man and used him to save his family (II peter 2:6-8).
Lets take a look at the comparison that Jesus gave us in scripture as it relates to Noah, Lot and the day we’re living in right now. In Luke 17:26 Jesus said, “…as it was in the days of Noah. So shall it be also in the days of the son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the Ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” Verses 28-30 says, “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, the sold, they planted, they built; (v.28) but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (v.29)Even thus shall it be in the day when the son of man is revealed.” Noah and his family were the only ones to hear the call to enter into the Ark. Lot and his family were the only ones to hear the call to flee Sodom.
And so shall it be when Jesus returns. If you’re not in the family of God, through Christ, you will not hear the final call. “When the trumpet sounds, and the Lord descends from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trumpet of God: the dead in Christ will rise First: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I- Thessalonians 4:16-17). Your spirit will not respond to that call if you are not in the family.
The way has
Been made
In the day when God will judge sin on the earth, just as God used Noah and Lot, God will find a righteous man and use him to save his entire family. That man is Jesus Christ. The question is, will you be part of the Family?
God’s plan was clear in the days of Noah and Lot and it is clear today through his word. If you want to be saved you must be in his family. Just as he made a way for Noah and his family to escape the flood, and for Lot and his family to escape the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, he has made a way for you to escape the judgement of sin and to have eternal life with God forever.
In Genesis 9:8-9, God establishes a covenant with Noah and his sons. Noah found grace in the eyes of God. And because of grace, we can be made righteous in the sight of God, through Christ. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “for he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Also, in Romans 3:22, “even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe…”
To demonstrate how much he loved us, and how much he wanted us to be a part of his family, Jesus gave his life to save us while we were yet sinners. Romans 5:10 even goes as far to say that “while we were the enemies of God, Christ died for us.” God’s love is so great that even when we were enemies of the cross he sent his only son to die and make the way for us to be at peace with God forever. Once enemies, but now so much more, now we can be in the family of God. Your place in God’s family can be certain because he has covered every possible aspect of acceptance for you in his family.
There are primarily three ways
to become part of a family. You are
either born, married, or adopted into a family. The effort that God has made for you to be in his family is outstanding. The Bible gives us examples of how God has invited us into his family using every available (???). Marriage, adoption and birth.
In the example of marriage Paul says in second Corinthians 11:2; “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you… to Christ.” He also spends much of Ephesians 5 talking about the relationship between the husband and wife in marriage and then sums up the chapter in verses 31 and 32 by saying, “…this is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and his church.” We see in Revelation 21:9-10 that the church is refered to as the Bride of Christ.
As for adoption; In Romans 8:14-17, Paul writes, “for as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (v.15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. (v.16) The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (v.17) and if children then heirs; heirs of God. And joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
Now lets talk about the birth. We no longer have to live as enemies of God. We can be born into his family. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3, “…except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” First John 5:1 says, “whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of
God: And everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.”
When you come to the Father, through Jesus Christ, he will accept you as his own. The way to eternal life and everlasting fellowship with
God has been made.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
In John 10:9 Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved….” You have an invitation from the father, an invitation to eternal life. Jesus said in John 14:1-3, “let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (v.2)In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (v.3)And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also.” Jesus taught in John Chapter 10, “…if a man tries to enter any other way but through the door he is the same as a thief and robber.” And who would try to get into a house without using the door except someone who is not a member of the family? If you have a relationship with the father you are welcome in the house and you don’t need to seek another entrance because you’re welcome through the door. That door is Jesus! The bible tells us that; “if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved” (Acts 16:31). The Bible also says in Romans 10:9-10, “that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (v.10)For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” And Romans 10:13 says, “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Jesus said in John 6:37; “All that the father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
When we, with our hearts, respond to the call of God; putting our hope and confidence in Christ and accepting, “…the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23) and we turn our backs on this world and begin to follow Christ then we will know the joy and peace that can only come from God. “…As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. (John 1:12)
You can experience the comfort of knowing you have a relationship with your father in heaven. A father that loves you with a perfect love…….
Accept you’re invitation into the family of God today!
There’s a lot of things you don’t need to know to become a Christian. You’ll learn them in time. But there are a few things you must know to become a Christian.
First you must believe in God.
In Genesis 1:1 The Bible starts with the words, “In the beginning God…” To believe in God is not hard at all. Creation itself teaches us that there is a God. We see proof of him, through his handy work, every day in every place.
God created us to be with him.
Genesis 1:27, “God made man in his own image…” You were created to be God’s friend. We were made to serve, worship and love him And to be loved by him.
What is sin?
Simply put, sin is disobeying God. The bible is an amazing book that tells us about great men and women who did great things for God. It also tells us all the wonderful things that God has done for us. But it also has some very specific instructions about the things we are not to do. “The Ten Commandments”, for example, is a list of things that we are not to do as well as things that God wants us to do. When we do the things God wants us not to do (or don’t do the things he wants us to do) that is sin.
The issue of sin.
The first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, disobeyed God. God told them not to do something and they did it…that was sin. At that moment mankind lost the life and fellowship with God that we were created to enjoy. And because of that sin everyone that would be born afterwards would be born into sin. Our sins separate us from God who is perfect and without sin.
The debt.
God is perfect and because of that sin must be punished. That’s why Jesus chose to die on the cross. When he died he took the punishment of sin instead of us. He paid what we owed…his life for ours.
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23
“…the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 5:8
“But God showed his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died from us.”
The price was paid.
Forgiveness of sins is a free gift that was purchased for you with the blood of Jesus Christ and all you have to do is receive this precious gift from God.
Jesus never sinned yet he died for your sins so that you wouldn’t have to. And when he rose from the dead three days after he was crucified he became the way for anyone who believes in him to be forgiven and live forever, without sin, in heaven.
John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
It all starts with a prayer.
If you believe what you’ve just read then you can be forgiven like so many others have before you. It’s as easy as saying a prayer.
1 John1: 9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Romans 10:13
“…whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Repent
To repent means to truly be sorry for your sins and to turn away from your sins and make the choice to follow Jesus Christ and obey his word.
The Bible has much to say about repentance. In Mark 1:15 Jesus said, “…Repent, and believe in the gospel."
2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
How to pray
Praying simply means to talk to God. In your own words and your own way just tell him what’s in your heart and on your mind. When you pray talk to God like you are talking to your best friend…because when you pray you are talking to your best friend.
John 15:13, “ Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
Time to pray
Tell God, in your own words, that you are sinner and want to be forgiven. Repent of your sins. And tell him that you believe Jesus died for your sins and rose again to live forever. Ask him to forgive you of your sins and he will do just that.
Romans 10:9-10 gives us a clear path to salvation with these word, “…. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Acts 2:21 says, “…whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Now what?
Now you need to make prayer and Bible study a part of your daily life. Let God speak to you through his word (the Bible). You also need to find a church where they are teaching the Bible. A place where you can grow in God’s love and enjoy the friendship of other Christians just like you.
From this moment on your life will never be the same!
“Dear God, Thank you for loving me so much that you sent your son Jesus to earth to take my place on the cross and die for my sins.
Jesus I believe you are the Son of God and that you lived a sinless life and died for my sins. I believe that you rose from the dead and because of that I will live in heaven with you forever. I am sorry for the sins that separate me from you and I repent of those sins and turn from sin to follow you.
I give my life to you. Thank you for the free gift of salvation. -Amen”
ROY BELT……..2007