Proclaimers of Resurrection-based Love

Its the most important message we can share with anyone.

Paul wrote, “I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received. Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures. He was buried. He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” [1]

Resurrection-based love tells people that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact. It addresses the issue common to humanity of our earth suits having expiration dates.

Death is the elephant in the room that no one wants to notice or talk about. But to avoid the topic of death is to jeopardize one’s eternity.

Just because we can’t see heaven or hell, it does not mean they don’t exist. Jesus emphasized the message of life after death in the Gospels and in the Revelation.

Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” [2] When Jesus resurrected from the dead, He proved for all to see that there is life after death.

The Early Church had a united testimony that went like this: “This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” [3]

Resurrection-based love is about endlessly and delightfully proclaiming, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [4]

Jesus says to us, “Come after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” [5] Be proclaimers of resurrection-based love.

[1] 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
[2] John 11:25
[3] 1 John 5:11-12
[4] John 3:16
[5] Mark 1:17

After Death – Alive and Well

“The angel said to the women, ‘Fear not: for I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and behold, He goes before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him: lo, I have told you.’ And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘All hail.’ And they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him.” [1]

How amazing to meet an angel! And to hear the angel say that Jesus is risen from the dead. “Spread the news!” Then, while experiencing a mix of fear and immense joy, they meet Jesus alive. Their response was to worship Him.

In Christ they had redemption through His blood, the remission of trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. [2]

Three days earlier, they had watched Jesus tortured unto death. Isaiah had prophesied of the coming Messiah saying, “His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men.” [3] Yet, here He stood alive and well.

Before His death, when asked for a sign, Jesus said, “As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so, shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” [4] Now, here He stood alive and well.

He had told His disciples more than once that He would suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. [5] Now, here He stood alive and well.

What did His resurrection mean to them? What does His resurrection mean for us?

Paul boldly proclaimed, “God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.” [6] His resurrection means we who believe in Him shall also be raised to new life after we die.

Jesus delivers us from the wrath that is to come against sin. [7] Our salvation is guaranteed based on what He did for us. After we die, we too shall be found standing, alive and well.

[1] Matthew 28:5-9
[2] Ephesians 1:7
[3] Isaiah 52:14
[4] Matthew 12:40
[5] Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22; Matthew 20:18-19
[6] 1 Corinthians 6:14
[7] 1 Thessalonians 1:10

The Potter’s Field

“When Judas, which had betrayed Him [Jesus], when he saw that He [Jesus] was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.’ They said, ‘What is that to us? You see to it.’ He cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. The chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, ‘It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.’ They took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.” [1]

What Judas did was wrong. He betrayed the Lord for the sake of money. Not just once, but often. John tell us that Judas “was a thief. He had the money box. He used to take what was put in it.” [2] But God, in His grace and love, turned what was meant for evil into something good.

God used the chief priests and elders to bring about the death of the Lamb of God. They called for His crucifixion. Christ’s blood is the only blood that cleanses sin away. God also used these evil religious men to purchase a “potter’s field” in which to bury strangers in. In so doing, they fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah on both accounts.

“This “potter’s field”—whose Aramaic name was “Aceldama,” or “The field of blood” was located outside Jerusalem. [3] The potters excavated and gathered its high-quality, deep-red clay to make their ceramics. Removing these nutrients from the soil rendered the land barren.

Unusable for farming, it was better suited to serve as a graveyard. Derived from the English Bible, the term “potter’s field” survives even today—also called “paupers’ grave,” “common grave.” It is used to describe a cemetery reserved for the disposal of unclaimed corpses, as well as the remains of unidentified and/or poor people.” [4]

God transformed betrayal money into charity money. The “potter” is the one who fashions vessels out of clay, pointing to God, who fashioned our own bodies out of the clay of the earth. The “potter’s field” points to a place where people who experienced little acceptance in this life, experience a place of rest in the life to come thanks to the love and mercy of God.

[1] Matthew 27:3-7
[2] John 12:6
[3] Acts 1:19
[4] forwhatsaiththescriptures.org

Brought into Honored Nearness to God

God shows His glory to people throughout the earth. He reveals who He is and what He has done that we might give Him glory in loving worship.

God mandates a declaration of His glory to the nations:

“Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.” [1]

The ultimate purpose for world evangelization is that all people might glorify God:

“Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts.
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth.” [2]

The ultimate value of salvation is not to be seen in what we are saved FROM, but in what we are saved FOR. People are saved to serve God in worship. World evangelization is for GOD. The rationale for mission is the colossal worthiness of GOD.

True worship takes place when we recognize who GOD is, publicly acknowledge Him, freely approach Him, and personally offer to Him gratitude and allegiance. Worship is genuine relational interaction with GOD.

God is delighted by the sincere love that comes to Him in true worship. By wooing people into true worship, He is able to fully bestow His love upon us.

“Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” [3]

Worship fulfills God’s love. He loves us so greatly that He wills to exalt us to something better than greatness; He wants to bring us into an honored nearness to Him. [4]

[1] Psalm 96:2-3
[2] Psalm 96:7-9
[3] Psalm 96:6
[4] Comments based on an article entitled, “The Story of His Glory” by Steven C. Hawthorne

Like God’s Angels

“The Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him [Jesus] and asked Him, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.’

Jesus answered and said to them, ‘You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels of God in heaven.’” [1]

The scenario that the Sadducees presented to Jesus, and to which He was responding above, was that a woman had married a man with six brothers. When the first one died, she married the second brother, and when he died, she married the third, and so on, until she had been married to all seven brothers during her lifetime.

Being passed from one brother to another seven times over does not sound like a good life to me. Their goal was to provide a heir from this woman, but she was not able to produce a child.

Jesus proclaimed good news about this woman. When she died, her identity was no longer tied to a husband or to an ability to produce children. She became like an angel of God in heaven, neither marrying nor given in marriage. Her identity was directly tied to her Creator and Redeemer. The same is true for every other woman who believes in God. She will be able to stand side by side with men, and give glory, honor, and praise to God. Praise the Lord!

[1] Matthew 22:23-30

The Lord’s Anointed One Wins

In Matthew 23, Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples about the sin of hypocrisy. He described its characteristics and pronounced woes upon its proponents. He declared they would bear the guilt of all God’s martyrs from Abel to Zechariah. [1]

Who is Abel? Who is Zechariah?

Abel is the first human to be murdered. His brother Cain killed him after the Lord respected Abel’s offering but did not respect Cain’s. [2] Cain’s works were evil and his brother’s righteous. [3] Abel’s offering was offered by faith to God and not by faith in himself. Thanks to God, Abel still speaks. [4]

Zechariah was the son of Jehoiada the priest. Jehoiada rescued the future king of Judah (Joash) from an assassination plot to kill him. After Jehoiada died, King Joash forsook the Lord. Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son, prophesied by the Spirit of God to King Joash, saying, “Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.” Rather than repent, King Joash had Zechariah stoned to death. As he died, Zechariah said, “The Lord look on it, and repay!” [5]

There are many such stories of God’s favored ones suffering at the hands of those who should have embraced them. These divinely favored ones were types of God’s Son. God’s plan was to show sinners the way back to God through their lives.

Another example is Joseph. “When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.” [6] They threw him in a pit. They sold him to human traffickers. But later on, after God blessed Joseph. By God’s grace, Joseph ended up rescuing his evil brothers from famine and he provided a place for them.

This morning as I prayed for the USA, and other nations in similar circumstances as ours, a Bible verse came to mind. Evil people had taken over David’s country. Someone told King David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” [7] The Lord answered David’s prayer. The conspirators were taken down, and righteousness ruled his nation once again.

Our Lord Jesus and His followers are the real deal. The fakers who rage, plot, and set themselves against Him fail. [8] Praise the Lord!

[1] Matthew 23:34-36
[2] Genesis 4:3-5
[3] 1 John 3:12
[4] Hebrews 11:4
[5] 2 Chronicles 24:20-22
[6] Genesis 37:4
[7] 2 Samuel 15:31
[8] Psalm 2

Global Christians Serving a Global God

“...Those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’).” [1]

“I pray that these words, ‘a father of many nations,’ may be written on our hearts. It reveals the living God of the Bible to be a missionary God.” [2]

God said to Abraham, “I will bless you.” [3]

“God... sent Him [Jesus] to you first, to bless you,” echoed Peter. [4]

“God’s attitude to His people is positive, constructive, enriching. Judgment is His ‘strange work.’ His principal and characteristic work is to bless people with salvation.” [5]

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” [6]

God wants people from every nation to hear the blessed Gospel and experience His salvation.

“How dare we adopt a hostile or scornful or even indifferent attitude to any person of another color or culture if our God is the God of ‘all the families of the earth.’ We need to become global Christians with a global vision, for we have a global God.” [7]

[1] Romans 4:16-17
[2] Quote from “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement”, chapter by John R. W, Stott

[3] Genesis 12:2
[4] Acts 3:26

[5] Quotes from “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement”, chapter by John R. W, Stott
[6] Revelation 7:9
[7] Quote from “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement”, chapter by John R. W, Stott

Jesus Messiah Our Savior

His face shone like the sun.
His clothes became as light. [1]

Moses (representing the Law) spoke with Him
Elijah (representing the Prophets) spoke with Him
The Father declared, “This is My beloved Son...
In whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” [2]
The Law and Prophets point to Jesus.
The Father points to Jesus.
He is God's Messiah and our Savior.

A father brought to Him a demon-oppressed son.
Jesus rebuked the demon, and the son was cured. [3]
Jesus has authority and power to defeat demons.

He spoke of being betrayed.
He spoke of being killed.
He spoke of being resurrected on the third day. [4]
Jesus has authority and power over sin and death.

The tax collector demanded taxes.
He provided tax money from the mouth of a fish.
The tax was paid for Him and for Peter. [5]
The government demanded what they could not pay.
Jesus miraculously provided for Peter and Himself.

Jesus is God’s beloved Son.
God is well pleased in Him.
Let us trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is God’s Messiah and our Savior.

[1] Matthew 17:2
[2] Matthew 17:3-5
[3] Matthew 17:14-18
[4] Matthew 17:22-23
[5] Matthew 17:24-27

The Heartbeat of Our Mission

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” [1]

God’s grace! His grace attracts us to Him. To want to be in His presence! To be glad to be in His house when a worship service to Him is happening!

“Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. And He [the Man] said, ‘Let Me go, for the day breaks.’ But he [Jacob] said, ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me!’ And He [the Man] said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.’ So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: ‘For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.’” [2]

Jacob fought for God’s blessing. He saw God’s face and lived. The Lord blessed him.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” [3]

Whether we acknowledge Him or not, God is the One who helps us. He made the heavens and earth, and He made us. Evil utterly and everlastingly destroys souls. God saves our souls as we trust in the amazing grace of His Son Jesus Christ for salvation. God is worthy of our praise and worship! It is good to go God’s house! To praise Him and love Him for preserving our lives in this world and in the next. And to love Him for who He is.

[1] Psalm 122:1
[2] Genesis 32:24, 26, 28, 30
[3] Psalm 121:1-2, 8

The Abundant Grace of Jesus our Lord

“When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.” [1]

What was it? It was the news that King Herod beheaded John the Baptist. Jesus wanted to be by Himself at this point, but when duty called, He answered.

Multitudes WALKED from the cities to the deserted place where Jesus was praying. Jesus went out to meet them. He had compassion for them. He healed their sickness. His disciples urged Him to send the crowd away to find food for themselves, Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” The disciples offered to Jesus five loaves of bread and two fish. He blessed this food. It transformed into enough food to feed the 5,000 men plus the women and children that were there, and still have twelve baskets full of leftovers. [2]

Jesus sent His disciples by boat to cross a lake. He stayed behind. He dismissed the crowds. Then, Jesus went up to a mountain to pray. He was alone. Then, duty called again. A storm hit the lake. Jesus could have stopped the storm from His place of prayer but chose instead to meet His disciples amid the storm. After giving Peter a brief opportunity to join Him for a walk on that stormy sea, He got into the boat with His disciples and the wind ceased. At that point, the disciples worshipped Jesus, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” [3]

Upon arriving on land, people from the surrounding area gathered many sick people to Jesus. They “begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.” [4]

“Thank You Jesus that You grieve the death of Your messengers, like John the Baptist, who are slain for speaking up for righteousness’ sake, but do not diminish Your compassion for the needy people of our world who seek You. Despite what evil does, You pray for and provide for the needs of those who come to You. I thank and praise You for Your bountiful and faithful love for us. Your grace is more than enough. Your grace towards us is abundant.”

[1] Matthew 14:13
[2] Matthew 14:13-21
[3] Matthew 14:22-33
[4] Matthew 14:34-36

Walking & Talking With God

“And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.” [1]

Abraham received the Lord and all that the Lord wanted to do for him. The Lord cultivated a relationship with him. One outcome of this relationship for Abraham was that the Lord revealed to him things to come. For example, the Lord showed Abraham that Sodom was about to be destroyed due to its sin. Therefore, Abraham asked the Lord to spare his nephew Lot from the destruction, and the Lord answered his prayer.

The Lord also revealed to Abraham that his descendants would dwell in a strange land for 400 years, and that the people there would afflict them, but afterward the Lord would bring them out. [2]

God did bring them out of that strange land [Egypt] with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among His tribes. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it ran in the dry places like a river. For He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham His servant.” [3]

It is vital for each of us to walk and talk with God... for each of us to receive the Lord and all that He does for us. To trust in Him! To listen carefully to what He has said to us in His book the Bible. In this way, God works to save our lives and to save the lives of those we love.

[1] Genesis 19:29
[2] Genesis 15:13-14
[3] Psalm 105:37, 41-42

Miraculous & Meaningful Conceptions

At age 99, Abram received a divine visitation. He fell on his face before the Lord. The Lord gave him a new name. Abram means father of people. Abraham means the father of many people. The Lord said to him, “I have made you a father of many nations.” [1]

The Lord made a covenant with Abraham. [2]

Then, He told Abraham, “I will bless her [Sarah] and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”

Abraham fell on his face once again, but this time because he was laughing so hard. He questioned the Lord, asking, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is 90 years old, bear a child?” The Lord affirmed His promise, saying, “Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac...” [3] Isaac means laughter. Psalm 2:1-4 says that the Lord laughs at the mighty who try to undermine His sovereignty. God can do as He chooses to do.

After receiving the promise of a long-awaited child, we find Abraham interceding for righteous people that they would not perish with the wicked. The Lord was about to destroy the city of Sodom because of their wickedness. Abraham’s nephew Lot lived there. So, Abraham interceded for Sodom. He began with fifty and stopped at 10! He asked the Lord to spare Sodom for the sake of ten righteous people in that city. The Lord listened to Abraham’s prayer. He promised to spare the city for the sake of ten righteous people. [4]

Sadly, there were not even five righteous people in Sodom. The city was destroyed after the Lord sent two angels to rescue Lot and his family.

Abraham is a type of Israel in that he waited a long time for the child of promise to born. His child Isaac was the outcome of a long-awaited miraculous birth. Many prophets foretold the birth of a Savior, but thousands of years passed before He (Jesus) was born. Jesus was the outcome of a miraculous birth. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary.

Like Jesus, Abraham interceded for righteous people to be saved from the fiery fate of the wicked. It is through our Lord’s sacrifice of Himself on the cross, and His forgiveness that people who believe in Him are made righteous. Jesus prayed on the cross, “Father forgive for they know not what they do.” [5] Those who believe in Jesus are forgiven of their sins, and thus, are spared from the fiery fate of the unforgiven. We all need the Savior Jesus Christ to be saved.

[1] Genesis 17:1-5
[2] Genesis 17:9-14
[3] Genesis 17:16-19
[4] Genesis 18:22-33
[5] Luke 23:34

Earthly Extravagance Exchanged for Eternity

Lot and Abram had too much between them to dwell in one place. Their herdsmen were striving against each other. “Abram said to Lot, ‘Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” [1]

Lot chose the area that was like the garden of the Lord. He pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. “But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.” [2]

The Lord spoke to Abram after Lot had separated from him. He told Abram to look northward, southward, eastward, and westward. Why? Because the Lord planned to give him the surrounding area. [3]

War broke out in Lot’s land. Lot and his family became prisoners of war. They lost everything. An escapee informed Abram about Lot’s situation and Abram rescued Lot, as well as Lot’s family and his goods. [4]

The king of Sodom offered to Abram the spoils of the war. “Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’” [5]

He refused to take anything from a man who was exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.

“Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of God Most High. He blessed him [Abram] and said: ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’” He [Abram] gave Him [Melchizedek] a tithe of all.” [6]

The writer of Hebrews explains that Melchizedek means “King of Righteousness” and that Salem means “Peace.” He is a priest not after the order of Aaron, but one without beginning or ending. He is God’s Most High Priest. He brought Abram bread and wine. Abram paid his tithe to Him. Melchizedek, “like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.” [7]

What began as strife between Lot’s and Abram’s herdsmen due to having too much, ended up for Abram as a divine visitation. Abram valued God’s righteousness – a righteousness not deserved. He allowed Lot the best land though he was Lot’s uncle and senior. He rescued Lot when Lot could not save himself. Abram valued God’s peace more than winning a battle of strife. Abram valued the Lord more than anything else. He got the Lord.

[1] Genesis 13:6-9
[2] Genesis 13:10-13
[3] Genesis 13:14-17
[4] Genesis 14:8-16
[5] Genesis 14:17, 21-23
[6] Genesis 14:18-20
[7] See Hebrews chapter 7, also Hebrews 5:6, 10 and 6:11

Called by the Gospel (book now available)

 

The Gospel Preached to all Nations

Jesus’ prophesied that His people would be hated by all nations in the end time. [1] But after saying this, He provided a much more optimistic prophecy about His people. Even though they will be an unpopular minority, they will be doing something great...

“And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” [2]

Jesus Christ motivated a small and weak group of people to do something big, namely, preach the Gospel of the kingdom in all the world... to all nations...”

Jesus reveals an important marker to identify what His true followers will be doing before He returns. They will be busy with getting the Gospel to all nations. The Greek word translated “will be preached” means to proclaim with formality, gravity, and an authority. Preaching appeals to the heart and urges action. [3]

The apostle Paul, “preached the kingdom of God and taught the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.” [4]

Jesus was clear that His Church will preach (and teach) the Gospel message on a global scale. Paul also wrote that the Gospel must be spread “to the ends of the world.” [5]

Jesus has commissioned His Church to make the Gospel message accessible to “all nations.”

“...As a witness...”

From the Greek word for “witness” we get the word martyr (to die for something), but the original Greek word means to testify, especially when being tried.

“...And then the end will come...”

In this context, “the end” refers to Christ’s second coming—which marks the end of “this present evil age.” [6]

Yesterday, the Lord refreshed my heart with news of Chinese Christians taking the Gospel to the region called the 10/40 window where the greatest number of unreached people groups live. I have attached a few pictures from a YouTube video where Zola Levitt interviews Brother Yun.

[1] Matthew 24:6
[2] Matthew 24:14
[3] Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 24:47; Acts 8:12
[4] Acts 28:31
[5] Romans 10:18
[6] Galatians 1:4

Noah Found Grace in God's Eyes

“And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be 120 years.’” [1]

“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.” [2]

The problem with sin is that it is evil, and it does evil. Also, God cannot tolerate it forever. God set a date for judgment in Noah’s day. And God has set a judgment day for the current generation as well.

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.” [3]

Noah is a type of Christ in the Old Testament. He is God’s chosen man to save humanity from perishing. Unlike the Messiah, He is not chosen due to his deity. He is not the sinless Son of God. Noah is chosen by God’s grace. God’s grace also helped Noah to live justly and to be considered perfect by God during his generation. What did Noah do that was such a good example to his generation? He walked with God. This is example that Jesus also set when He walked the earth. Fellowship with God was more important to Jesus and Noah than approval of people.

“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...” [4]

The ark is also a type of Christ in that all who enter it are saved from death during the Judgment Day.

“Thus, Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.” [5]

Noah followed the Lord. The Lord led Noah to victory not only for himself, but for us who are alive today. He may have felt lonely and like a loser at the time. He only saved his family, but no God used Noah to preserve humanity. Thus, God uses those who walk with God when all the world is walking astray.

[1] Genesis 6:3
[2] Genesis 6:5
[3] Genesis 6:8-9
[4] Genesis 6:13-14
[5] Genesis 6:22