| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Peter G. Chase" |
| Date: |
15 Nov 2004 01:30:33 AM |
| Object: |
DN Rebuking the World 11/15/2004 |
DRAWING NEAR
November 15
Rebuking the World
"By faith Noah . . . condemned the world, and became an heir of
the righteousness which is according to faith" (Heb. 11:7).
Your actions and words should rebuke our godless society.
Genesis 6:5 says, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great
on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was
only evil continually." Before moving in judgment against the most
evil and corrupt society in history, God appointed Noah to build an
ark, which became a symbol of life and salvation to all who believed
God. For those who disbelieved, it represented impending death and
judgment.
Concurrent with constructing the ark, Noah preached about coming
judgment. Peter called him "a preacher of righteousness" (2 Pet.
2:5), and every board he cut and nail he drove in was a living
illustration of the urgency of his message.
God's warning was stern and His message horrifying, but His patience
and mercy prevailed for 120 years. As Peter said, "The patience of
God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the
ark" (1 Pet. 3:20). The people had ample warning of judgment, but
they chose to disregard Noah's message.
As sad as the account of Noah's day is, perhaps the greatest tragedy
is that man's attitude toward God hasn't changed since then. Jesus
said, "The coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of
Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were
eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until
the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until
the flood came and took them all away, so shall the coming of the Son
of Man be" (Matt. 24:37-39).
Like Noah, you are to proclaim righteousness to an evil and perverse
generation by your works and your life. Be faithful to do so even if
people don't want to listen. After 120 years of diligent work and
faithful preaching by Noah, only eight people entered the ark. But
God's purposes were accomplished and the human race was preserved.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Sometimes you'll encounter people who scoff at God's judgment and
mock your testimony. Don't be discouraged. Pray for them and be
available to minister to them whenever possible.
For Further Study:
Read 2 Peter 3. What effect should the prospect of future judgment
have on your present behavior?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
2 Peter 2:5
5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight
people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the
world of the ungodly
2 Peter 3
3:1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of
which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),
2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by
the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the
Lord and Savior,
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days,
walking according to their own lusts,
4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the
fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the
beginning of creation."
5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the
heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the
water,
6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with
water.
7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same
word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition
of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one
day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count
slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any
should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in
which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements
will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in
it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner
of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because
of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the
elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens
and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent
to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; as
also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him,
has written to you,
16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in
which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable
people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of
the Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware
lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with
the error of the wicked;
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
.
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