Noah built an ark. It took him 25+ years, and I am sure his workmanship was excellent, as by the time he started it he had already had 500 years of life to perfect his woodcraft. The ark he built was not water tight, though, as the Lord had to shut him in:
Gen 7:16 So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.
There will never ...be another flood like that one, purposed to rid the world of evil humanity, but the Bible is clear that there will be another purge. This time it will be fire. This time the ark must be built by each individual, but it will still be the Lord who shuts them in.
To build the ark, start with Jesus' two commandments:
Mat 22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
If you don't have a desire to understand and live them, ask the Lord to give it to you. These will lead you to the actions that build the ark, namely seeking first the Kingdom, desiring to know the Word, realizing the truth about your awful condition, repenting of your sins and asking for and receiving the saving grace of the blood sacrifice Jesus made on your behalf. Asking is the building; receiving is the shutting in.
It is not about life in the flesh any more. All flesh perishes. We are at the end of the age when eternity will be decided for us all once and for all. There is a brief time of terrible struggle, which the has already begun in the world, and then judgement will come. At judgement there will be no more deciding. It will be done, the time of choosing will be over. It is just around the corner.
There is still a little time left to build the ark. The hour is late, but the Lord tarries for you. Jesus said he who is first shall be last and he who is last shall be first. He was talking about getting off the ark. The first on were the last off, and the last on were the first off. Here is the end of the parable:
Matt 20:13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
The day is fast approaching when the last of the chosen will board and the doors will be shut and sealed by almighty God. Whomever is not aboard will be caught in the fire of judgement and perish, while on board will be a party such as has never been before nor ever will be again.
Like the end of a long and grueling marathon, or the celebration of finishing a particularly difficult building project, and everyone who wins is family. A party to celebrate the race being run. A party that will have Jesus present. The celebrants are they who went through the Lord's refining fire and escaped Hid firey judgement. They went all in for Him, and He went all in for them.
Make your choice. Build your ark. All-in or all-out: no more sitting on fences. Pick a side; choose this day whom you will serve.
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Gen 7:16 So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.
There will never ...be another flood like that one, purposed to rid the world of evil humanity, but the Bible is clear that there will be another purge. This time it will be fire. This time the ark must be built by each individual, but it will still be the Lord who shuts them in.
To build the ark, start with Jesus' two commandments:
Mat 22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
If you don't have a desire to understand and live them, ask the Lord to give it to you. These will lead you to the actions that build the ark, namely seeking first the Kingdom, desiring to know the Word, realizing the truth about your awful condition, repenting of your sins and asking for and receiving the saving grace of the blood sacrifice Jesus made on your behalf. Asking is the building; receiving is the shutting in.
It is not about life in the flesh any more. All flesh perishes. We are at the end of the age when eternity will be decided for us all once and for all. There is a brief time of terrible struggle, which the has already begun in the world, and then judgement will come. At judgement there will be no more deciding. It will be done, the time of choosing will be over. It is just around the corner.
There is still a little time left to build the ark. The hour is late, but the Lord tarries for you. Jesus said he who is first shall be last and he who is last shall be first. He was talking about getting off the ark. The first on were the last off, and the last on were the first off. Here is the end of the parable:
Matt 20:13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
The day is fast approaching when the last of the chosen will board and the doors will be shut and sealed by almighty God. Whomever is not aboard will be caught in the fire of judgement and perish, while on board will be a party such as has never been before nor ever will be again.
Like the end of a long and grueling marathon, or the celebration of finishing a particularly difficult building project, and everyone who wins is family. A party to celebrate the race being run. A party that will have Jesus present. The celebrants are they who went through the Lord's refining fire and escaped Hid firey judgement. They went all in for Him, and He went all in for them.
Make your choice. Build your ark. All-in or all-out: no more sitting on fences. Pick a side; choose this day whom you will serve.
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment