was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man, and was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast ...” (Genesis 6:5-7).
You don't have to look further than the genocidal maniacs of the twentieth century, with the murder of millions and millions, to understand that wickedness can be “great in the earth.” I'm thinking of Stalin, Mao, Hitler etc. We may never know the true numbers, but Hitler's was over six million, and Stalin's and Mao's were far greater! God knows the “intents and thoughts” of our hearts, and declares that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). It was a shock to me to learn, in the process of being convicted of sin righteousness and judgement (John 16:8), just how wicked is my own heart. As the Jeremiah quotation implies, I was deceived. It's not something we want to admit, most of us like to think we are good people.
When bad things happen to you, know that God is grieved, and He is just, and in the end every wrong will be put right. God was about to release His judgment on the earth, through the flood, but He did not, and never does, do this without warning. But Noah walked with God (6:9) and He tells him “I am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you (Genesis 6:8, 17, 18). So where do we read about the warning?
Well Noah was a preacher of righteousness, and through his preaching warned the people (2 Peter 2:5). He did this all through the long process of building the ark, during which time the “Divine longsuffering waited” (1Pet. 3:20). Again God is not willing that any should perish but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). However at that time only eight souls repented and were saved!
As we see the World going to hell in a hand basket, we need to hear Jesus, speaking about Himself, warning “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they did no know until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37-39).
Lord Jesus, it's not fashionable to talk about sin, righteousness and judgement. We talk only about Your amazing love, and it truly is amazing (John 3:16). But mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace kissed at the cross (Psalm 85:10). God is love, but God is just too, and sin must be punished. And if we don't receive Your offer to take our punishment in our place (1 Peter 3:18), then we must bear our own punishment. I am forever grateful Lord that You sought me out when I had no idea how lost I was. Thank You again for salvation in Your precious Name Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment