Genesis 8:1 – 9:17 After experiencing a cataclysmic flood and after being locked up with your family and all the animals in an “ark” for over half a year, Noah might have begun to wonder, “Will this never end!? Has God forgotten about us?”
But the Bible records, “GOD REMEMBERED NOAH, and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the Ark!”
God remembered, God acted, and God spoke (vss.15-17)! That was cause for worship! (vss. 20) And God responded with a wonderful covenant of grace (and we’re reminded of it every time we see a rainbow)! (vss. 8:21-22 and 9:8-17)!
That is what God has done for us through Jesus Christ! (John 3:16-17) Oh, Praise the Lord – reason for worship!! In His love and mercy He has done it!
GRIEF IS REAL – EVEN FOR THE GODLY! (You really need to read Job 3 to see how real it can be!)
Before we are quick to judge Job’s remarks in Job 3, however, as somehow unbecoming to “a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil” (An assessment, incidentally, of Job’s spiritual character and God’s evaluation of Job on two different occasions – Job 1:1, 8; 2:3), perhaps there should be an empathetic consideration of the magnitude of Job’s loss and the pain he suffered at the hands of Satan (Job 1-2)!
Grief is a real human challenge, even for the godly! Yet the Bible declares, “we do not grieve as those who have no hope!” (1 Thessalonians 4:13) We believe that all things are in the Lord’s hands and ultimately “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose!” We also believe that “nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:28, 35-39) Those realities help sustain us through times of great loss and grief!
“WITHOUT AN EXCUSE!” There is a finality to it – we are all accountable!
God has revealed Himself! Not only in the Bible or in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ (His coming is what the Christmas story is all about and what He did on our behalf is what Easter proclaims!) But look around you – look up at the heavens – God has revealed Himself as Creator in all you see! Creation is referred to as “general revelation” – Jesus and God’s word we refer to as “special revelation!” I just finished reading Roman 1:18-32 in my Bible this morning… it declares that because of “general revelation” – God’s revelation in creation – WE ARE ALL WITHOUT EXCUSE!”
We can reject God! We can choose to go our own way instead of God’s! But there are consequences! In the Romans 1 passage that sad story is described. Instead of an “evolutionary spiral” upward, rejecting God’s way leads downward! “They became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools!” it declares. (Vss. 21-22) And then the sad, repeated refrain, “God gave them up…” And the consequences? …Idolatry, impurity, and immorality… in fact, “They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and maliciousness! They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless! … They not only do these things but give approval to those who practice them! (Vss. 29-32)
All of these are the consequences of rejecting God’s revelation and choosing to go your own way!
But there is a better way – God’s way! He has revealed Himself in all that has been made, and sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be our Savior. He has also graciously revealed His will and provision for us in His Word. Here’s the testimony of those who embrace His way… “The blessing of the Lord makes rich and add no sorrow with it!” (Proverbs 10:22) “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day!” (Proverbs 4:18) Let me tell you, I’m choosing to go His way, not my own!
Coffee With The Lord 