We are told back in Genesis 6 that God’s patience was wearing thin with His creation (mankind). “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man 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 on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” (6:5-6)

 

 So God decided to destroy all that He had created. Man had then, and continues today, to choose not to follow God and walk according to His ways...and to love Him with all their hearts. 

 Yet, we read in vs. 8 that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. We are told that Noah was a ‘just man, perfect in his generations.’ And that ‘Noah walked with God.”. That would be another way of saying ‘abiding’. 

 God told Noah of His plans there and then made it clear there would be a way of escape and protection. (11-18). We should all be familiar with this ‘ark project’ Noah undertook. And it’s a good thing he did. Because the floods came just like God said they would. God really does mean what He says as it is impossible for Him to lie. (Heb. 6:18) 

 Sure enough...the day came when Noah and his family of 8 entered the ark, the door was shut, and here came the floods, or...God’s ‘wrath’. (Yep...continuing on from the past two days) 

 The ark that Noah constructed and was ‘saved by’, is a picture of what it means to be ‘in Christ’. Christ IS...the ‘ark’. And in the same way that Noah was saved from the floods of God’s wrath by being ‘in the ark’, so are we ‘saved’ by being ‘in Christ’. To be ‘in Christ’ means to no longer be under condemnation because now we no longer walk according to the flesh, but follow the Spirit. (Rom. 8:1)  Are You...following the leading of His Spirit? (That is different than professing you believe in Him)

 When asked by His disciples what the ‘end of the age’ would look like, Jesus gave quite the lenghty response there in Matt. 24. He eventually likens this approaching time as being similar to the ‘days of Noah’. (36-39). He explains how the ‘floods came and took them all away’, apparently oblivious to what was happening until it was too late. 

 "So shall it be when the Son of Man returns".(37). They. Did. Not. Know. 

 How did Isaiah describe the ‘enemy’ coming in like, there in 59:19? Like a...flood, yes? 

 When Jesus was wrapping up his Sermon on the Mount, He finished with an illustration describing the difference between a wise man and a foolish one. You might be familiar with this passage where both men built a house on different foundations, one on rock, the other sand. He likens the wise man as one who not only hears the word of God, but he actually does it. But it is important to see here...what both houses were subject to. Jesus described an approaching storm of sorts where a ‘flood’ beat against both houses. He did not say ‘if’ the flood came, rather He said ‘when’. (Matt. 7:24-27) 

 Luke records this story on the heels of Jesus asking some: ‘Why do you call Me Lord, and not do the things I say?” (Luke 6:46). Notice the verbiage used there in vs. 48 and how the flood ‘beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it.” 

 Now if you would, please turn to Hebrews 12:25-27. Paul advises we not turn a deaf ear to God explaining of a day coming when God will once again...’shake the whole earth’ and goes on to warn that this will be done to ‘remove all those things which can be shaken so that the things which cannot be shaken will remain.” 

 IF...you are built on the rock which means you are a ‘doer’ of the word, and not just a hearer, you will be safe from destruction. 

 IF...you are ‘in the ark’ or ‘In Christ’ you will be safe from the flood of destruction that is coming and now already here. To be ‘in Christ’ means you will be abiding in Him’. (John 15:1-8) Which means if you are abiding in Him, you will not continue to be sinning. (1 John 3:6,9). This also suggest you will be bearing fruit. (John 15:4-6). Bearing fruit (that remains) is how one avoids being gathered up and thrown into the fire. (15:6). Bearing fruit, is how one avoids being ‘chopped down by the axe’ that John the Baptist warned about in Matt. 3:7-10. Jesus affirmed this as well in Matt. 7:19.

 And are you familiar with the parable of the wheat and the tares? (Matt. 13:24-30,36-43). In short, Jesus explained this would be like the end of the age, and these ‘angels’ or ‘reapers’ are instructed to go out and first...gather up all the tares (those who practice lawlessness) and cast them into a ‘furnace of fire’ where there will be ‘gnashing of teeth and wailing’. (41-42) 

 Then...the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.(43) 

 Can I just humbly tell you now...that if you are among the multitudes of sincere believers who openly admit and confess...you still continue to practice sin...you are practicing lawlessness. And this is not good, at all. (Matt. 7:23)

 I realize most of us have been taught that even though...we came to Christ,  we will continue to sin on a regular basis. Some, more than others it would seem, but no need to worry...’all is good’. I am telling you, this is a lie that does not line up with God’s word. Whoever abides in Christ will walk like Jesus walked and no longer sin. (1 John 2:6; 3:6,9). People seem to oppose and reject this truth, and for reasons that I understand why. 

You might want to fire back at me asking “So are you saying, Tony, that you don’t sin?” And I would plainly tell you...it does not matter what I do or don’t do in light of what God’s word has made clear. Let God be true, and every man a ______? (Rom. 3:4) 

 You might then want to respond with “Well I don’t know anyone who lives or walks like that!” 

 And your point would be? ? ?  Now, I don’t know what the population of the earth was when Noah built that ark, but I’m guessing there were...well...who knows. We are told though,  how many... were actually ‘saved’. (1 Peter. 3:20) 

 When several million oIsraelites wandered in the wilderness after being delivered from Egypt, the majority claimed God was not able to do what He said He would do regarding entering the promise land and defeating all the giants and wicked people. (Num. 13-14). So God said “Fine, have it your way” and they wandered for 40 years before that first generation of men all died out. Except two, Joshua and Caleb. They got to enter in that land of peace and rest and promise. 

 How many did Jesus say would end up walking this narrow path that lead to a narrow gate that leads to life? (Matt. 7:13-14) 

 Has God really said? (Gen. 3:1-6). And what did Paul express fears over there in 2 Cor. 11:2-4? 

 So this next part is important to hear and understand and study out for yourself. (Acts 17:11) 

 Paul wrote about the end of the age and the coming of the lawless one and the great falling away and the day of the Lord, there in his letters to the Thessalonians. He explained there in the second letter that because people refused to love and embrace the truth (like maybe we can actually be set free from sin and go and sin no more?)...that God was going to send a ‘strong delusion’ that people would believe a lie...and then perish for it. (2:9-12) 

 He also made it known in that first letter that the day of the Lord would come as ‘a thief in the night’. (5:2). He makes it clear that ‘brethren know perfectly what is happening’; unlike the countless ones who- Did. Not. Know. Oh...who did Jesus way were true ‘brethren’? (Mark 3:33-35). 

 Also...since we are told this day will come as a ‘thief’....what does John 10:10 tell us a ‘thief comes to do? 

 When Jesus was warning the church at Sardis there in Rev. 3, a church I might add that was known to be a ‘lively’ church, yet Jesus told them they were ‘dead’ (3:2), ...He advised them to repent and see to it the work was finished. But in the next verse, (3) how did He say He was going to ‘come upon them as’? (you need to go look that up now). Then refer to Rev. 16:15 where He drives home this point again. 

 Now, Peter chimes in affirming that the ‘day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night’ as well. (2 Pet. 3:10). 

 What did Jesus caution us on there in Matt. 24:43? 

 So if all this wrath is coming...and we should know what ‘is’ the wrath of God now, turn back to Joel 2. You might finish up today going over this chapter carefully. Seems like some ‘nation’ (same one Jeremiah talked about 5:15-17 as did Isaiah 13) is about to overrun the ‘city’. Notice what they are known to do in vs. 9...’break in to homes like a ‘thief’. Then, we read about a ‘shaking’ in vs. 10. But wait...here’s the good news...finish up with vs. 12-13 before jumping back to James 4:7-10. 

 See you tomorrow?