Noah
1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
3 And 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.
4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And 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.
Genesis 6:1-7.
The above verses describe a very unfavorable situation. God is highly disappointed that his humans have so greatly strayed from his original intent for them. Essentially, man is evil to the core. He must be stopped and his pets. We can only wonder what would have happened had God gone through with his plan.
He took one last glance around. Kind of a “Are you sure you want to delete this file?” And then God clicked on NO.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Grace shows up in the worst of circumstances.
Grace saved the human family.
Grace preserved the animal kingdom.
Grace gave us the rainbow.
Grace led to the building of the life-saving ark which would be a representation of the Cross upon which Jesus would die. That is the greatest gift of grace ever bestowed. As the Noahs entered the ark for salvation, so we enter in to Christ for redemption.
Hebrews 11:7 expands upon it:
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Grace to Noah came in the shape of an ark. That ark was only able to accommodate eight people and some heterosexual pairs of animals. Grace to us comes in the shape of a cross to where whosoever will may come and be saved.
The songwriter said it, Though millions have come there’s still room for one, Yes there’s room at the cross for you.
This is the first mention of Grace in the Bible. From the beginning Grace precedes faith. Later the Apostle Paul would shed light on the Divine plan.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8.
Grace allows for faith to be the only pre-requisite for complete and total salvation. Ephesians 2:9 continues: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Grace disqualifies works and thus eliminates elitism.
The other songwriter got it right too.
Wonderful Grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it, Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free;
O the Wonderful Grace of Jesus reaches me!
Run to the Cross, my friend. -PJF-
And now a word from our Pastor…
God: The Revealer of Secrets
King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him so much he could no longer sleep. He called for magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to not only interpret his dream, but to reveal it to him as well. Their response to the king’s request: “there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” (Daniel 2:11b) Angered by their response, the king gave orders to have all the wise men put to death.
As the captain of the king’s guard came to get Daniel and his friends, Daniel asked “why is the decree so hasty from the king?” (Daniel 2:.15b) The captain told Daniel what happened.
Daniel went to the king and asked for some time so he could give the interpretation. Daniel and his friends prayed for God to reveal this secret and the meaning so they would not lose their lives. God answered their prayers and Daniel was able to go before the king and tell him all that God revealed about his secret dream.
“The king, answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.” Daniel 2:47
God revealed secrets then and he is still revealing secrets today. -SAF-
God: The Deliverer
“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.” Daniel 6:16
It was known throughout the land that Daniel had a special connection with God. Daniel’s relationship with God was the only “fault” his enemies could find to use against him. They craftily devised a plan that would cause Daniel to get arrested and be thrown into the lions’ den.
King Darius was pacing the floor wondering what he could do to help Daniel. When no solution was found, he had no choice but to follow through with judgement. Early the next morning the king went to see about Daniel and found that God sent an angel to protect him from the lions. The king was happy to see that Daniel was unharmed and had Daniels’ accusers and their families thrown into the lions’ den.
Amid all that was going on, Daniel never protested. He made no judgments or pleas to try and get him off the hook. He did not curse his enemies on his way out, either. He stood firm in his faith in God and he came out unharmed.
It is important to note that it was King Darius that said God will deliver Daniel. It speaks volumes when a nonbeliever can see who God is through your relationship with Him. -SAF-
Psalm 2 - An Alternative
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
God is not affected by heathen rejection of his messianic provision.
As a matter of fact he finds it quite humorous. He looks down from his elevated position and laughs.
How utterly ridiculous these earthly rulers must appear to the sovereign of the universe.
However, those who reject the Christ are subject to the anger of God because they are without a mediator and are unreconciled. They are at enmity with God and without the protection of his grace. They stand alone without anyone in their corner.
Isaiah 53:4 and 5 describe the mission of the Messiah.
4 He was stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 The chastisement of our peace was upon him.
God’s wrath was placed upon his Son and those in Christ are no longer under the displeasure of a holy and righteous God.
Unfortunately, those outside of Christ are subject to verse 5 of that second Psalm: 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Not a good place to be.
In verses 6-8 Jesus is prophetically declared to be King, the only begotten Son, the ruler of all the earth and the Savior of all who inhabit it.
Psalm 24:1 establishes: The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Those who willfully reject the Savior will face the fate of verse 9: Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
In Luke 20 verse 17 and verse 18 Jesus said: 17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? 18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Sinners do not have a happy ending. But there is an alternative.
That second Psalm covers it in verses 10-12: 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Listen, there is a side to the Father, and the Son also, that can be provoked. Rejection of the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross will not fare thee well my friend. But for the believer it is joy unspeakable and full of glory. There is no wrath for the saved.
Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 1:10: And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. And again in 1 Thessalonians 5:9: For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hallelujah!
Jesus is the answer. Escape the wrath of God today. Come to Jesus, be in Jesus, stay in Jesus. Backslider, return today. There is a special call to those away from God today. I just felt that. You have strayed, but Jesus is here today to restore you. Come home prodigal. Amen. -PJF-
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