An invitation to escape

 

1)      In Gen. 6 we see a time in the world’s history when the population was rapidly expanding.

2)      More and more people were being born (Gen. 6:1).  Evil was also increasing.

3)      God was well aware of what was taking place and He put man “on the clock.”

4)      According to verse 3, man was given 120 years to make some changes.

5)      If a generation is about 40 years, God said He would let three generations pass.

6)      Beginning with verse 8 we have the story about Noah.

7)      Noah probably did not need any reminding of how evil the world had become.

8)      He did need some insight on what God was going to do – verse 13 – READ

9)      When devastation comes or is about to come, people usually want safety.

10)   There are cases where people are offered refuge or rescue and they refuse.

11)   We have seen cases where storms were about to strike but people would not leave their homes.

12)   Most agree if there is looming danger, they need to accept the invitation for shelter.

13)   God said destruction was coming.  God also offered a way to escape – verse 14.

14)   God has never wanted people to perish or be injured, and this was certainly true in Noah’s time.

15)   Time and time again God has given people the means to avoid destruction.

16)   While the flood is one example of this, such is also true for the future.

17)   The Bible warns that a future time is coming—a time of destruction

18)   It is a time when many people will face “unquenchable fire” (Mt. 3:12).

19)   People will have their “whole body cast” into this terrible environment (Mt. 5:29).

20)   Future destruction is what most” will face (Mt. 7:13).

21)   God invited Noah and others to avoid the calamity posed by the flood.

22)   God also has an invitation to avoid the future ruin just mentioned.

23)   To take advantage of this invitation, we need to follow heaven’s directions.

24)   Noah was told that he could avoid the destruction by building an ark.

25)   Gen. 6:14 – 15 – READ

26)   Noah did not earn his deliverance.

27)   He simply learned what God’s invitation involved and he accepted it on God’s terms.

28)   Such is also must be true for us—we accept and respond to God’s invitation.

29)   We can be grateful that heaven’s invitation to us does not require an ark.

30)   We could build one, but we can save power tools and lumber for other projects.

31)   God’s invitation to us is much easier and faster.

32)   Heaven has told us that we have an invitation to safety, but our invitation requires belief.

33)   Noah had to believe in God and in a coming flood.

34)   We believe in God and a coming day of judgment and destruction for the unsaved.

35)   Noah could not live as the wicked people in his day and time lived.

36)   Neither can we; the New Testament tells us to “repent” (Acts 2:38).

37)   Noah acknowledged the power of God; we acknowledge the power and authority of Christ.

38)   We confess the name of Jesus before men, 1 Tim. 6:12.

39)   Noah had to enter into a place of safety (the ark).

40)   We also need a place of safety.

41)   Our refuge is Christ.  We get into Christ by being part of His church.

42)   We become part of the church by being baptized in water for the forgiveness of our sins.

43)   Acts 2:38 says people were baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.

44)   Then we are told that Jesus added these baptized believers to His church (Acts 2:47).

 

45)   God’s warning to Noah was a very serious matter and our warning is just as serious.

46)   Verse 17 of Gen. 6 – READ

47)   This is precisely what God did.

48)   Some today have the idea that the God of the Old Testament is not the God of the New Testament.

49)   In the Old Testament those who refused heaven’s invitation were destroyed; they perished.

50)   Many have the idea that under the New Testament, few will perish.  God is now different.

51)   It is not really necessary to accept the invitation of God for God does not really care.

52)   Listen to Heb. 10:28-31 – READ

53)   Does the God of the New Testament take notice of those who spurn His invitation to safety?

54)   He not only notices, He will punish those who do not accept and obey what He offers.

55)   In Gen. 6 God promised that those who did not accept His invitation would perish.

56)   He also made a promise to Noah – verse 18 – READ

57)   Today, what we see in Gen. 6 is still true.

58)   Rejecting the invitation of God will result in certain punishment.

59)   Accepting and responding to God’s invitation will bring about rescue and safety.

60)   God cannot base a promise on anything greater than Himself.

61)   God has given His personal guarantee that if we accept His invitation, we will not be disappointed.

62)   Neither will we perish at the end of time.

63)   One of the things I learn about God’s invitation is that it is always perfect.

64)   When we plan an event there is often concern.

65)   Will all the guests be in town?  Will the time we choose be too early or too late?

66)   If it is an outside event, will we have the right type of weather?

67)   If there are special circumstances, will people understand what they need to do?

68)   God said rain would start in seven days (Gen. 7:4).

69)   In Gen. 7:10 we find that rain did indeed come on the day God promised.

70)   God’s invitation to Noah was just right.

71)   This man was not told to board too soon or too late.

72)   He did not get on board “in the nick of time” or “way ahead of time.”

73)   We need to realize that God’s invitation to us is just right—it is perfect in everyway.

74)   In spite of this there are those who want to tinker with it.

75)   People are not satisfied with how God’s invitation is written so they want to modify it.

76)   We cannot improve on perfection.

77)   We now come to Gen. 7:10-12 – READ

78)   Most everyone here has seen the effects of a flood.

79)   This was a world-wide flood—a flood unlike the world ever has or ever will again see.

80)   This flood tells us that God did not exaggerate in His invitation.

81)   What God promised is precisely what happened.

82)   We can also learn from this as we live in the New Testament age.

83)   God has made some promises about the end of time.

84)   If people do not embrace God’s invitation for salvation and live faithful Christian lives, they will perish.

85)   God is not kidding about this matter.  He is not embellishing.

86)   For those who do not accept God’s invitation, their existence will be misery beyond description.

87)   For those who do accept it, they will find security.

88)   Gen. 7:23 – READ

89)   Noah and his family were put in a secure environment.

90)   God invited them to a place of safety and they were okay.

 

91)   It is sad to trust in something and find that when we really need it our items fails.

92)   During my time at Hummer I had a chance to look at some military vehicles.

93)   The doors on the vehicles I saw were heavy.  The trucks looked rugged and durable.

94)   There was probably a time when soldiers felt like they were being invited to use a safe vehicle.

95)   Many came to realize that a lot of those vehicles were not safe.

96)   Men lost their lives in what they probably considered to be protected military vehicles.

97)   We might be told that everything is okay when that is not the case.

98)   We never find this with God.  If God invites us to a place of safety and we accept, we are safe.

99)   Verse 19 of Gen. 7 – READ

100)  The ark was in some very, very deep water.

101)  Today we can get into some very deep water (figuratively speaking).

102)  No matter how high the water gets, if we have accepted the invitation of God we are safe.

103)  The winds may blow hard and the waves may assail us, but we are safe.

104)  Sometimes it may take some time to fully visualize that safety.

105)  Verse 24 of Gen. 7 – READ

106)  Noah was in the ark for about a year.

107)  A year in the same place can be a long time.

108)  If the place where someone is abiding is safe, it is okay.

109)  Noah’s family was finally able to exit the ark and they were able to see many changes.

110)  Such is also true for us.

111)  As we live our lives, our existence is somewhat parallel to being on the ark.

112)  We cannot see the final result of our accepting God’s invitation right now.

113)  A time will come when our faith will be replaced by sight.

114)  Noah found that accepting God’s invitation was the right choice.

115)  He realized that to some degree while on the ark (he was safe and dry).

116)  He understood it even more when he left the ark (Gen. 9:1).

 

117)  Today, if a flood were coming, what would we do?

118)  Would we accept an invitation to overcome it or would we sit idly by and be destroyed?

119)  God says something far worse than a flood is coming. 

120)  A time of judgment is on the horizon.  All men will stand before God and account for their lives.

121)  Judgment day is not an invitation; it is an ordained day (all will be there).

122)  The “invitation time” is now—in our day to day lives.

123)  God lays out an invitation through His word to become a Christian and live as a child of God.

124)  This is an invitation we do not want to neglect, miss, or refuse to accept.

125)  Have we accepted God’s invitation to become a Christian and to live as a faithful Christian?