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Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Genesis 7:23-24 wherein we observe the judgment of God and are reminded that He, though patient, will deal with sin.
He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.
A chilling thing to read about or hear recalled is one of those instances during war-time when entire cities were wiped out in a bomb raid. Virtually everything alive that didn’t get out beforehand had its life snuffed out. It is probably very good if thinking on such happenings bothers us. Consider then this account of God’s judgment on the entire earth when likely millions upon millions of people were drowned over a period of forty days of rain, most certainly perishing long before that 40th day. This is in the Bible that we as Christians cling to and love, a story portrayed (although somewhat modified) in children’s Bible story books, but it is hardly a G-rated account. What are we to do with it?
We should learn that God hates sin and, though He be long-suffering with it (it took decades to build the ark during which people heard Noah’s testimony), He will not endure it forever. One day He will destroy the world again, although this time by fire (2 Peter 3:7), which warns us toward the repentance that He accepts as we submit to Jesus Christ alone. We would do well to take Him seriously this second time around. For, like it was in Noah’s day, most people will not travel the narrow road. Jesus told his friends, Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matthew 7:13-14). We need to hear Jesus in this. We must inform others that this is what He said, that they might consider the narrow way to life. Most people are doing the exact same thing that everyone was doing in Noah’s generation: operating by the principle of immediate consequence. Noah labored hard in obedience for what would be for us an entire lifetime while his fellow man saw no warning signs as each went his own way. It is doubtless the case that as the flood waters rose, they pounded on the door of the ark that God Himself had shut.
My friends, the Christian message is strange. On this side of heart-enlightening faith, we can see the joys of knowing our Lord, but those outside of His family may very well be enjoying life and see little reason why anything needs changing. All we can do is be faithful. All we can do is walk in and speak of the truth, praying that God will show others their great need for Jesus, the Haven and Rescuer. All we can do is love and pray. Let us take a deep breath and walk in the strength He provides for today. Let us remember that judgment is coming and that God is patient, not delayed.
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