Friday, December 6, 2013
Hebrews 11:17 "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith."
THE ADVANTAGE OF ADVENT (5)
I remember a sermon given over 10 years ago that had a very simple, but rather edgy title, "Remember Lot's Wife." It struck me as a very odd and alarming theme because it only seemed to center around death and destruction. Almost 2000 years later, Jesus explained what the coming Day of Judgment would be like. He said in Luke 17:32, "Remember Lot's Wife ..." and went on saying, "whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it." Jesus was speaking about caring about THIS life more than being willing to let go of the material things of this world. "Remember Lot's Wife?" She could not give up the earthly riches and pleasures that Sodom and Gomorrah offered, so she looked back and lost her life, turning into a pillar of salt.
When the world watched on for 120 years while Noah built the ark and proclaimed God's message of coming judgment, we could rightly say, "Remember Noah" also! But we see a much different result with Noah than with Lot's wife! Noah and his family didn't look back when God warned them of coming destruction. Noah and his family looked to God's coming deliverance in the midst of that destruction!
Genesis 8:1 says after the flood that "God remembered Noah." God hadn't forgotten him or misplaced the ark. The Lord "remembered" (He took action in accordance with) His divine covenant and promises not just to Noah, but that divine promise of a Savior from sin for all the world. That was Jesus' message to His believers and followers of all time -- the world has nothing lasting to offer. Look to Christ's salvation from this valley of death and see a time to remember all the times our Lord has delivered His people!
We still look forward to Jesus' coming, without looking back, because we trust His lasting work of forgiveness and everlasting promise of eternal life. Until that day, let's heed our Savior's warning to "Remember Lot's Wife," and joyfully cling with thanksgiving to the "ark" of His covenant and promises in our redemption from sin, death, and eternal destruction!
