“…and the Lord shut him in.” (Genesis 7:16)
Noah’s ark is an excellent picture of salvation in Jesus Christ. God told Noah to build the ark because He was sending a flood upon the earth, a flood of judgment.
Noah and his family and two of every kind of “unclean” creature and seven of every kind of “clean” animal were to be on board. Every living thing on the ark survived the flood, and all mankind and living creature not on the ark drowned.
When the last animal was on board and all of Noah’s family were inside, the Bible says, “and the Lord shut him in.” He was not hanging on to a peg outside the ark neither was he treading water beside the ark or following the ark’s example of floating. No; the Lord shut him in.
When we place our faith in Jesus the Savior He “shuts us in.” He is our “Ark of Salvation.” We are safe in Jesus. Praise the Lord.
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Friday, January 6, 2017
Prepare for the Inevitable
“…and he died.” (Genesis 5:5,8,11,14,17, 20,27,31)
I have seen a picture of a tombstone with this engraving:
“Dear Friend Remember as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so you shall be;
Prepare for Death, and follow me.”
Throughout the history of man’s existence on earth only two have escaped death. They were Enoch, the father of Methuselah, and Elijah, the prophet of God. Even though Methuselah lived to be 969 years of age, the oldest man that ever lived, he died. The death rate remains at one per capita.
God has prepared us for the inevitable by sending His Son, Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and by raising Him from the grave in resurrection power to give us eternal life.
No Christian on his death bed has ever complained that he trusted Christ as his Savior. If you will receive Him by faith you will be glad you did.
I have seen a picture of a tombstone with this engraving:
“Dear Friend Remember as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so you shall be;
Prepare for Death, and follow me.”
Throughout the history of man’s existence on earth only two have escaped death. They were Enoch, the father of Methuselah, and Elijah, the prophet of God. Even though Methuselah lived to be 969 years of age, the oldest man that ever lived, he died. The death rate remains at one per capita.
God has prepared us for the inevitable by sending His Son, Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and by raising Him from the grave in resurrection power to give us eternal life.
No Christian on his death bed has ever complained that he trusted Christ as his Savior. If you will receive Him by faith you will be glad you did.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Numbered with the Transgressors
“… because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)
That Jesus the Son of God would be numbered with transgressors is beyond comprehension. But, it is a fact. When He was born He was given the name, Emmanuel, which means, “God with us.” He was called the “Word.” The Bible says the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. We are the “us.” We are sinners, transgressors. He was numbered with us, the transgressors.
The primary meaning in our text is a reference to Christ going to the cross. All four of the Gospel writers make reference to Jesus being crucified between two thieves. Mark says, “And with Him they crucify two thieves; the one on His right hand, and the other on His left. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’”
It was part of the plan of God that His Son would be crucified between two thieves because the sins of the whole world, including my sins and your sins were upon Him. The Jews and the Romans and all who had part in His crucifixion were treating him as a common transgressor. God was treating Him as the only perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Will you believe on Him and trust Him to be your Savior?
That Jesus the Son of God would be numbered with transgressors is beyond comprehension. But, it is a fact. When He was born He was given the name, Emmanuel, which means, “God with us.” He was called the “Word.” The Bible says the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. We are the “us.” We are sinners, transgressors. He was numbered with us, the transgressors.
The primary meaning in our text is a reference to Christ going to the cross. All four of the Gospel writers make reference to Jesus being crucified between two thieves. Mark says, “And with Him they crucify two thieves; the one on His right hand, and the other on His left. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’”
It was part of the plan of God that His Son would be crucified between two thieves because the sins of the whole world, including my sins and your sins were upon Him. The Jews and the Romans and all who had part in His crucifixion were treating him as a common transgressor. God was treating Him as the only perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Will you believe on Him and trust Him to be your Savior?
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
The Christian’s Intercessor
“…and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:2)
The Patriarch, Job, lamented that in his day and during his difficulties and trials there was not a “daysman betwixt us that might lay His hand upon us both.” (Job 9:33) However, the Christian has such a one today. “It is Christ that died and is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34)
Jesus is our High Priest at the right hand of God. Even when you and I do not realize it, He is making intercession for us.
When Satan, the accuser, goes before God with his accusations against the believer, Jesus is there pleading our case before God. He is the Savior and High Priest whom you can trust to plead your case before God. The picture is that of a court room. God is the Judge of all the earth. Satan is the prosecuting attorney who comes before the Judge with his accusations and true charges against us. We’re helpless unless… Jesus is the Defense Attorney and the Son of the Judge. Jesus holds up His nail pierced hands and pulls back His robe so the spear print in His side may be seen and says to his Father, the Judge, “Yes, Father, he broke the law but I have paid his fine with the nails, the spear and the blood.” “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous…”(I John 2:1) Case closed.
You must first trust Him to be your Savior and Lord before He will be your High Priest. Will you trust Him if you have not?
The Patriarch, Job, lamented that in his day and during his difficulties and trials there was not a “daysman betwixt us that might lay His hand upon us both.” (Job 9:33) However, the Christian has such a one today. “It is Christ that died and is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34)
Jesus is our High Priest at the right hand of God. Even when you and I do not realize it, He is making intercession for us.
When Satan, the accuser, goes before God with his accusations against the believer, Jesus is there pleading our case before God. He is the Savior and High Priest whom you can trust to plead your case before God. The picture is that of a court room. God is the Judge of all the earth. Satan is the prosecuting attorney who comes before the Judge with his accusations and true charges against us. We’re helpless unless… Jesus is the Defense Attorney and the Son of the Judge. Jesus holds up His nail pierced hands and pulls back His robe so the spear print in His side may be seen and says to his Father, the Judge, “Yes, Father, he broke the law but I have paid his fine with the nails, the spear and the blood.” “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous…”(I John 2:1) Case closed.
You must first trust Him to be your Savior and Lord before He will be your High Priest. Will you trust Him if you have not?
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Absent from the Body; Present with the Lord
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (II Corinthians 5:8)
Two of my good Christian friends have recently died from cancer. One had known of his cancer for years and had undergone much treatment and over the years had spent much time in hospitals. The other learned of his cancer less that a month before he died.
In sharing God’s word with their survivors it seemed the most comforting truth was our text for today. What could be better than going from this house of clay, this tabernacle or tent, this fleshly body, racked with pain into the very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When my precious parents and later two brothers were struggling with sickness I concluded that I would not want them back here in their sick bodies, ravaged with pain. When Paul the apostle wrote to the Philippian Church he said he had a desire to depart and to be with Christ.
Before one can make such a statement they should be sure they know the Lord as Savior. Do you know the Lord?
Two of my good Christian friends have recently died from cancer. One had known of his cancer for years and had undergone much treatment and over the years had spent much time in hospitals. The other learned of his cancer less that a month before he died.
In sharing God’s word with their survivors it seemed the most comforting truth was our text for today. What could be better than going from this house of clay, this tabernacle or tent, this fleshly body, racked with pain into the very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When my precious parents and later two brothers were struggling with sickness I concluded that I would not want them back here in their sick bodies, ravaged with pain. When Paul the apostle wrote to the Philippian Church he said he had a desire to depart and to be with Christ.
Before one can make such a statement they should be sure they know the Lord as Savior. Do you know the Lord?
Monday, January 2, 2017
From Useless to Useful by the Hand of God
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
The great Apostle Paul declared that before he was saved he was a blasphemer, a persecutor and injurious. He did what he could against Christ and His followers. He gave his approval for Stephen to be stoned to death. Stephen became the first Christian martyr. Paul called himself the chiefest of sinners. When the Lord saved him on the Damascus road He changed him.
When we are saved we are the “workmanship” of Christ Jesus. The idea is that of a skilled craftsman who has taken a pile of junk and made a thing of beauty and usefulness from it.
The late, John Philips, in his Commentary Series on Ephesians and Philippians said, “Good works are part of God’s plan. They are not the price of salvation, but the proof of salvation. The believer is not saved as a result of good works; good works are the result of salvation. They are the result of God’s working in the believer’s heart. They are the evidence that he is alive from the dead.”
If you have not done so, will you allow the Master Craftsman to make you over into a useful servant of Christ?
The great Apostle Paul declared that before he was saved he was a blasphemer, a persecutor and injurious. He did what he could against Christ and His followers. He gave his approval for Stephen to be stoned to death. Stephen became the first Christian martyr. Paul called himself the chiefest of sinners. When the Lord saved him on the Damascus road He changed him.
When we are saved we are the “workmanship” of Christ Jesus. The idea is that of a skilled craftsman who has taken a pile of junk and made a thing of beauty and usefulness from it.
The late, John Philips, in his Commentary Series on Ephesians and Philippians said, “Good works are part of God’s plan. They are not the price of salvation, but the proof of salvation. The believer is not saved as a result of good works; good works are the result of salvation. They are the result of God’s working in the believer’s heart. They are the evidence that he is alive from the dead.”
If you have not done so, will you allow the Master Craftsman to make you over into a useful servant of Christ?
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Trophies of God’s Grace
“…that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7)
Schools often have trophy cases in which are kept the trophies of athletic and sports victories. Future generations of students see those trophies and determine to excel in their sports activities. Past generations see and remember the winning of those trophies with great pride.
Sinners who have been saved from a life of drunkenness, drugs, adultery, theft, lying, lostness, hopelessness and a host of unmentionable sins were saved and changed by the grace of God. In heaven we shall be the “trophies of God’s grace.”
In the ages (plural) to come when we are in the presence of the Lord and someone looks at us they will see a trophy of His grace, not one who deserved to be in heaven. If we could look at ourselves in a mirror when we get to heaven we would see, not our good works and deeds, but a trophy of God’s grace.
Schools often have trophy cases in which are kept the trophies of athletic and sports victories. Future generations of students see those trophies and determine to excel in their sports activities. Past generations see and remember the winning of those trophies with great pride.
Sinners who have been saved from a life of drunkenness, drugs, adultery, theft, lying, lostness, hopelessness and a host of unmentionable sins were saved and changed by the grace of God. In heaven we shall be the “trophies of God’s grace.”
In the ages (plural) to come when we are in the presence of the Lord and someone looks at us they will see a trophy of His grace, not one who deserved to be in heaven. If we could look at ourselves in a mirror when we get to heaven we would see, not our good works and deeds, but a trophy of God’s grace.
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