Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Genesis 6:12-14 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch."
IS THAT A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT?
One of the headaches of our recent building remodel at our church was that we were trying to complete it during the second half of our school year. One of the questions that was often raised (including the fire marshal) was about the safety of the students and teachers during the construction. We can become frustrated with codes and regulations. Or we might be impatient on an eight month project that "seems" to have no end. But imagine Noah and his family building the ark, that gigantic boat! Not only do many Bible scholars believe it took them 50-75 years to build, but Noah, "a preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5) no doubt endured mockery, ridicule, and persecution while they built the ark. What kind of working environment would that have been like?
Yet, "Noah did everything just as God commanded him" (Genesis 6:22). And the LORD saved Noah and His family from that terrible flood He used to judge the godless world. In a similar way, we too are eternally safe as we build on God’s Word of command and promise. Proverbs 29:25 encourages, "Whoever trusts in the LORD will be kept safe." Noah and his family were delivered from God's wrath by the wooden ark the LORD had planned and promised. We too will be delivered from God's wrath against sin on the last Day. God's Son Jesus Christ, who took on our flesh and was born and laid in that wooden manger, who suffered and died on that wooden cross for our sins, has delivered us from God’s wrath by His death and resurrection. He is our ark of safety no matter what trials, mockery, ridicule or persecution that we may face in this short life. So we rejoice in our blessings, our safety, and most importantly in our Savior Jesus, who keeps us like He did Noah in His loving and gracious care as we too faithfully proclaim Christ’s righteousness.
