But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:8)
Thus Noah did according to all that God commanded him,
so he did. (Genesis 6:22)
Theologians teach us in various means and ways, that
GodŐs grace to mankind was first demonstrated in the garden of Eden, when God
provided sacrificial animal skins to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve.
In Genesis 6:8 however, we find the first mention of the
word grace, or the Hebrew word, chen, meaning grace or favor. But Noah, in this
context, is found in contrast to the wicked, corrupt worldly system God was
about to destroy. But in our day, how would you personally, or how would you
describe the churchŐs stance in the light of the same scrutiny of GodŐs grace?
Notice, in GodŐs grace Noah did all that God commanded
him in Genesis 6:22. One could argue that GodŐs grace, led in some way to
NoahŐs obedience. In gardening terms that the Bible uses in many places,
obedience is the fruit of grace. No fruit, something must be wrong. In the case
of a tree or similar fruiting plant, we can easily see that these could be the
result of environmental conditions, or in the treeŐs genetics itself.
Theologians will also teach us that Noah is a type, or
example of Jesus Christ. Through Noah, God provided a person and a means by
which the worldŐs population might be saved through the coming disaster. In the
world of that time, only eight persons total, took advantage of that
deliverance. NoahŐs immediate family.
In that same light only the immediate family of Jesus
Christ, the body of Christ (that walks in obedience to him, from the above
Biblical example) will be saved from the pending destruction at the end of the
age.
For many weeks a friend has been bugging me to listen to
a teaching by Ray Comfort on ŇHells best kept secretÓ on the Internet. This is
found at www.raycomfort.com. This teaching is well worth the almost forty seven
minutes it takes to listen to, because it describes the use of the law as an
important means of evangelism and discipleship. As we stated last week, this is
something the church has lost in the last one hundred years, in the attempt to
be relevant to a lost and dying world.
Relevant to a lost and dying world. Pause for a moment
and think about what that really means.
I came away from listening to this message with the
belief that Ray is what I would call a revivalist, who discovered a new, or
more precisely the old message, that to understand grace you must first
understand the consequences of breaking GodŐs law and the requirement for a
perfect means to satisfy that requirement for holiness. That requirement is
satisfied alone in the work of Jesus Christ. Being a nice guy or gal, doesnŐt
cut it.
That is step one, what you normally hear being called Ňget
saved.Ó Going back to our fruiting example, that changes the environmental
conditions, so that the fruit of obedience can grow and ripen. To some extent,
that is still controlled by GodŐs seasons, however sooner or later, you must
look at the quality of the plant.
Bushes and trees were created by God. Mankind was created
by God in His image. In the creation account we are formed three days hence the
bush. This brings us to step two, the obedience thing. Trees and bushes have an
excuse. And of course so do we,
LetŐs make a short list.
1. I have no
self esteem.
2. I have
too much self esteem.
3. IŐm too
busy.
4. IŐm too
lazy.
5. Even
though GodŐs grace has saved me, IŐm too stupid, or have not been taught how to
truly respond in gratitude.
Now you can probably turn on the television or go to
church and hear a message that will put these excuses in the context of ŇGodŐs
wonderful plan for your life.Ó
But in the same context as Ray pointed out, and I am
paraphrasing, ŇWithout Jesus Christ satisfying GodŐs requirement for perfect
holiness in your life, without that atonement, God will send you to hell!Ó
In the context of obedience that we find in Noah, when
God tells you to build a ship, the excuse of not being a ship builder, doesn't
enter into GodŐs equation of your possibilities. He also really isnŐt concerned
that the Dow Jones again reached a new five year low Tuesday at just a hair
over 7700 and that your early retirement investments have melted away. In fact,
He may be thrilled, for once you loose your worldly security, you might just
look for some everlasting security. You no longer have the excuse, ŇAfter I
retire God, then I will build your ship, when I can securely live off my
investments.Ó
Thoreau is most often quoted for saying, ŇMost men live
lives of quiet desperation.Ó That is just as true today in the church as
outside. How about you? Inside the church, outside the church is there really
any difference?
Well, outside the church you donŐt have to live with the
religious legalisms. That is a good thing. Inside the church you have to live
with more of that legalism than you would like, some times more than you can
bear alone, but you are being obedient to God and Jesus Christ. And as Paul
learned, and you are learning, ŇGodŐs grace is sufficient for you.Ó
Ask most people in the world why they donŐt go to church
and after the legalism argument soon follows a response that they find it
boring. So in our generation the Ňchurch leadersÓ have determined to create a
church that is not boring. ŇIf you are seeking not to be bored with your
desperate life, come to our church and for at least an hour or more a week we
will fill your life with godly excitements and entertainment, and we donŐt even
charge admission, your love gift will be sufficient, if you feel led.Ó
Within the boredom, or the glitz and hype, GodŐs grace
still works unseen and not understood, but by a very few. They are not bored,
their lives are not desperate, for they have been given a vision, or an
understanding, that there is a bigger picture than most ever grasp. Why?
Because of one little step of obedience to God, long ago, or perhaps yesterday,
or for you, maybe a few days hence.
From that little step God takes over and changes your
life forever. What once seemed important is now trivial, and some things are
worth dying for. A few, a very few are worth living for.
What in your life is worth living for? Not in just this
transitory life of change, but in the eternal sense. Throughout history, but
only fully visible these last two thousand years, a small minority of the
population has discovered life in Jesus Christ is worth that price. A small
minority within the church, but never outside the church. Within Christ comes
work, family, and a host of other blessings, that is achievable in no other
way.
These people have been given the task of building and
being part of GodŐs eternal ark. That is the best job in the world, the only
one which does not entertain vast times of boredom and desperation. It is a
life learned by living and overcoming your weakness. Not by hype or your will,
but by the power of the risen Christ, who forgives your sins (past, present,
and future tense) and makes you acceptable in sight of GodŐs perfect holiness.
GodŐs grace provided an environment by which Noah could
build an ark, in which to save eight people and pairs of all the animals, while
the rest of the world perished. Noah preached a message of righteousness and
God made him righteous as he preached. This is true today as it was in the days
of Noah. We preach worldly accommodation and we become as we preach, or as we
sow. We are the fruit of what seems right to us. But this is not GodŐs
righteousness.
Are these times such as in the days of Noah? In the
ultimate sense the timing is only known to God. But one thing is for sure, if
you do not enter into that ark, step one. And learn to walk in obedience to
God, no matter the part of ark building He has designed for you to build, you
will never experience the true satisfaction for why you were created. ThatŐs
all folks there is to step two.
Seeds for prayer
Last week started as one of the most frustrating weeks in
my life and ended on the same note. By the time I left for Spokane Sunday
afternoon, I did however receive enough money to continue forward, slowly at
GodŐs pace. One of the things we must learn (me over and over again) is the
promise of GodŐs faithfulness in all things.
Monday however, was the day for moving my motherŐs stuff
out of the house in Wilbur and it went without a hitch, even according to the
time table I had estimated. Tuesday I played golf at Indian Canyon in Spokane,
the first time I had played in over two years. Talk about blessings, I was also
able to get rid (loose) most of the remaining dozen golf balls I purchased back
then. Praise the Lord. Most of the furniture will be sold at auction Thursday
night. Please intercede for the sale and the rest of the estate stuff I am
trying to get finished, or get proceeding this week.