Welcome back to our “No Bible, No Breakfast” spiritual exercise. Two weeks ago, we studied Genesis chapters 1-6. We read through the creation, man’s fall, God’s promise of the Redeemer, family life, prevalent wickedness of men upon the earth, and how Noah found grace in God’s eyes. If you recall well, Genesis 6 ended with Noah completing the building of the ark as commanded and empowered by God. Let’s go through Genesis 7 together…
1. THE DIVINE INVITATION
Genesis 7:1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
“Come into the ark” indicates that God was in the ark and would be with Noah in the ark, so He invited Noah to come into the ark with Him. Oh, what a sweet invitation! Those people heard the invitation, saw the ark, talked about it, mocked it, but they did not enter into it!
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Jesus loves to invite. I serve a God who invites me into rest and glory. This is the same way Jesus is saying: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” and he will say to us at the last day: “Come, ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Hallelujah!
The bible shows that “Depart” is the word of justice and judgment, but “Come” is the word of mercy and grace. If you have received the invitation, you will enjoy His mercy and grace. His mercy will permanently forgive your sins, and His grace will permanently make you righteous.
“…for thee have I seen righteous…” does not mean Noah was “sinless”, but that he had been declared righteous by God, by grace through faith (Gen. 6:8, Heb. 11:7). Noah’s family enjoyed the blessings of his righteousness and were saved from God’s wrath. We also enjoy the blessings of Christ’s righteousness and we shall be saved from God’s wrath.
2. THE DIVINE EXHORTATION
Genesis 7:4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
After 120 years of “evangelism”, God invited Noah into the ark. One would think that the rainfall would begin immediately. But God in His graciousness gave another seven days for the wicked world to escape the coming destruction.
My attention is drawn to verses 2-3. Both the “clean” and the “unclean” are to enter the ark. Jesus is the Saviour of everyone, whether you live a “clean” life or an “unclean” life. Jesus is our ark! (Titus 2:11, John 3:17). Whether you’re a pope or a prostitute, pious or perverse, prudent or prodigal, and whether you earn a living in a bank or bar, a bus station or a brothel, a bedroom or a boardroom, your salvation is in Jesus. The “clean” that refuses to enter (believe in Jesus) will be condemned!
3. THE DIVINE INDUCTION
Genesis 7:9,16 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah… And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.
These verses point to the eternal security that we have in God. Like I said earlier, Jesus is our Ark – our dwelling place (Deut. 33:27, Psa. 71:3). Thus, we can say that He’s our:
A. Ark of SALVATION
Salvation is nowhere else but in Jesus. He is the Door (John 10:9), the Way (John 14:6), the Mediator (1Tim. 2:5), the perfect Sacrifice for sin (1John 2:2; Heb. 10:26), and there is no other name that guarantees salvation! (Acts 4:12) Outside of Jesus, there is no hope for eternal life.
B. Ark of SATISFACTION
It is only in Christ that God can be satisfied with us. If you seek to satisfy God by your own righteousness, you will actually be irritating him (Isa. 64:6). There is no condemnation in Christ (Rom. 8:1), for we are new creatures (1Cor. 5:17) that are hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3), and He is our refuge.
C. Ark of SANCTIFICATION
Believers are always set apart for God, once and for all (Psa. 4:3, Heb. 10:10). In Christ, we have been separated from sin and judgment, and are now witnesses for Him. Hallelujah!
D. Ark of SECURITY
“…and the Lord shut him in.” Oh, glory! So, even if the stubborn “goat” feels like going out, there was no way it could go out, for it was locked in the ark! If the “pig” messed itself up in the ark, it remained in the ark and was not condemned together with the outside world. In the same way, we are locked in God’s hands (John 10:28-29). Whoever says that a believer can lose his salvation in Christ is simply saying that God’s security can be breached.
Dear believer, let this truth bring a rejoicing to your heart. In Christ, though you have moral failures, you are secured forever. His security is not dependent on your morality. Give no room for the devil’s condemnation, for it will take your focus away from Christ, who sanctified (and still sanctifies) you. Do not return to the law for help. The law can never help; rather, it condemns. Your victory over sinful habits can only be guaranteed under grace (Rom. 6:14). Let this truth of your security propel you to a life of stability.
What Can We Learn From the Event of the Flood?
- The flood was a Specific event.
It actually happened in history. Both the apostle Peter and the Lord Jesus refer to it as an example of the way people in the end times will scoff at God’s judgment (2 Pet. 2:5; 3:3-10; Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27). God’s future judgment will also be a specific event.
Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
- The flood was a Sweeping event.
It actually happened all over the world then. Some people have suggested that the flood only happened locally in Noah’s region. The biblical evidence is clear that it was worldwide in scope. The language of the text is very strong in describing a flood of global extent. In Genesis 7, the words “all” and “every” are used in a deliberately strong manner, and the repetitions describe the extent of the flood. God’s future judgment will also be a sweeping event. (Rev. 20:11–15)
- The flood was a Sudden event.
The flood came on the earth suddenly, although with warning. God had been warning that evil world for almost 1,000 years. Enoch preached against the ungodliness of his day. Noah’s ark took 120 years to build. Judgment came suddenly, but not without warning. God’s future judgment will also be a sudden event, coming after warnings.
- The flood had a Salvation plan.
The ark was God’s plan for salvation from His wrath on the face of the earth. It was an offer of grace. The people were not asked to do anything, other than believe the word of God and enter into the ark. Everyone who rejected this offer was doomed. Also, we must take God’s means of escape – JESUS CHRIST. Rejection of salvation is the acceptance of damnation.
- The ark was Shut by God.
In our evangelism, we should not act “God”, deciding when to shut the door on someone else’s salvation. None of us is qualified to determine who should be saved. Someone’s sins might seem unforgivable to us, but it is God that justifies the ungodly who believes. Do not write anyone off thinking they’re unworthy of heaven. God kept the door of the ark open until the last possible minute, but there came a time when the door had to shut. When the door is open, it is open. If the vilest offender can dare believe, he will be redeemed. But when the door is shut, it is shut. Jesus is Key Owner/Holder (Rev. 3:7).
Dear Gogolights, let us continue to preach the gospel of the grace of our God to this perishing world. The door is wide open now. The day of salvation is now. Let us tell them to “believe and be saved”.
Grace to you, Church!
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