–Stephen Bly  (Throw the Devil Off the Train)

       “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

                         –Hebrews 11:7 (NASB)
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I doubt if anyone would not agree that this world is full of evil.  It is wicked and there seems to be little possible to stop its advance.  In looking at our world I began to think of the times of Noah.  Jesus said, “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:  they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26-27, NASB).
       Some theologians believe that this verse just means that when the Lord returns it will happen during the normal happenings of life.  It will be life as usual until the Lord returns.  But I began to look at the verses in Genesis.  That was an evil time.  Perhaps the most evil in history.  It was a time devoid of faith and godly virtue.  “Then 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” (Genesis 6:5, NASB).  Evil continually, so evil and wicked that it grieved the Lord and He said that He would “blot out man…” (Genesis 6:7, NASB).
       It must have been extreme wickedness.  The hearts of man were wicked, and vile and perverse evil was practiced.  But let’s go back to Enoch, the great grandfather of Noah.  He walked with God.  So much so that God took him.  I wonder what Methuselah thought when his father did not return from his daily walk with the Lord?  The days were already evil, yet Enoch was able to walk with God despite the evil.  That should tell us something–a person can live for God in this pagan and apostate world.  Another question, was Methuselah a godly man?  Did he instill the knowledge of the holy One to his children, especially to Lamech the father of Noah?  Was Lamech godly?  There must have been something there for we know that “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9, NASB)
       Man knew about God, or at least did at one time.  Most likely they had perverted their worship and began to serve false gods–idols.  It also seems that they were so far gone that they could not be turned around; hope had passed them by.  There is no message of redemption except that Noah was a preacher of righteousness.  His life exemplified godliness.  His message was for the people to turn, yet no one did.   Scriptures say that the “earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11, NASB)
       However, God in His mercy and grace–His unmerited favor gave Noah a command.  Noah was a man of faith; he proved his faith through his faithfulness in doing what the Lord commanded.  Now, another question, why did all the inhabitants have to be destroyed?  Was this God showing mercy?  One writer said that the devil was trying to pervert all the people so that there could be no righteous left to continue the bloodline of which Jesus would come.  Hmmm, perhaps?  Noah found grace!  It is important to remember that grace is not a reward, but a response to faith.  He must have been a remarkable man, especially for his times.  The Lord declared, “for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time.” (Genesis 7:1, NASB) and because he was faithful it is said that he “did according to all that the LORD had commanded him.”  (Genesis 7:5, NASB)  Oh that we be like Noah–faithful, righteous, and obedient.  He was not perfect, but he was righteous and he stood out in the midst of wicked and perverse people.

                    –B. N. Rundell  (Journey to Jeopardy)

       “Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.”

                    –2 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)
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Something caught my attention while I was reading the other day and I want to share it with you for you to ponder.  It comes from a book written by Brannon McPherson,

                     “To end everything is to begin judgment.”

Over the years I had heard many people complain or exhort depending–why doesn’t the Lord just end this evil world?  Why doesn’t He bring justice?  But when you look at it, if He would put an end to the world, the next thing on the agenda would be judgment.  Yes, for sure, justice would come.  The writer of the Hebrews states, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this is the judgment.”  (Hebrews 9:27, NKJV)  This is for all humans who have lived on this earth.
       It will not be all singing and dancing and whooping it up, nor will it be immediate torment, but first–the Judgment.  All will be judged!  Now I don’t understand it all, but once you die time ceases.  Are we thrust immediately before the judgment throne?  In one sense we are, because God is not bound by time; He is omnipresent.  He is already at the Judgment and is waiting for us to join Him.  I am not saying that man goes dormant after death, but there is no time for them anymore.  
       When your life ends–what then?  The Judgment.  After that the believer experiences joy unknown.  There is a table spread before them waiting for the Groom to appear and dine with us.  There is joy forevermore and we will be in the presence of Christ for eternity.  In other words, we can face the sleep of death with boldness.  The day of judgment is before us, however there is no fear because we have accepted His love.
       However, what about the wicked?  When they die, time ceases for them as well.  They will not be RIP, but they will be at their Judgment, the Great White Throne.  After death comes the judgment.  There is something about the first death and the second and final death.  We all die once, but those who have not accepted Jesus Christ will forever be dead, yet alive in torment.
       “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17, NKJV)   Natural, physical death would now enter upon creation.  Man would die one day a physical death.  But then we must look at the words of Jesus for He says, “Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5, NKJV)  A new birth, a birth of the Spirit.  This birth keeps man, not from physical death, but from the final death, the second death.
       I wrote all of this to say that the reason God doesn’t end everything now is that judgment would immediately follow.  He is waiting, waiting for that perfect time.  He is waiting for the time of which Peter wrote, “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.” (2 Peter 3:9, NKJV)  The promise of the Lord is coming–there is a Day of Judgment, however He is waiting, waiting for that last person to accept Him.  Only God, in His infinite omniscience knows the day and hour when the Son will return and hope will be lost.

                    –Elmer Kelton  (Badger Boy)

       “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves”

                    –Matthew 7:15(NKJV)
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The world is full of evil, just look around you.  Evil, as in the days of Noah, where God finally said, enough is enough, and destroyed the world.  But evil wasn’t destroyed, the men who practiced evil and injustice were, but since sin is bound in the heart of man Noah and his family brought evil to the world after the Flood.  Man is bent on the destruction of himself and those around him.  
       How often have you cried for justice?  When you look at the schools and educational system, where is the justice?  Politics?  There is little justice to be seen and those who practice justice are mocked, ridiculed, and scorned.  Jude aptly described the culture and society of our day.  

               “Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries…  But these speak of evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.”
                              –Jude 8, 10 (NKJV)

One of the major cries of the Prophets was “where is the justice?”  And along with that they warned those who practiced injustice.  Injustice, evil, mockery and scorn, this is the world in which we live.  How do we do it?  By faith!  Wiersbe writes, “Faith learns to live with seeming inconsistencies and absurdities, for we live by promises and not by explanations.  We can’t explain life, but we must experience life, either enduring it or enjoying it.”
       Therefore, much of how we endure or enjoy life depends upon our attitude.  Our faith gives us the hope and the attitude that God is in charge and He will do what is right.  There is coming a day of reckoning–of justice, and that is up to God Almighty–the great Judge Himself.  Evil is there, but the goodness and grace of God will prevail.  Injustice is there, but justice is there also and the great Day of His appearing is at hand.  “The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.  The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming.”  (Psalm 37:12-13, NKJV)
       I am reminded of the words from the song by J.H. Stockton:  “Only trust Him, only trust Him, Only trust Him now…”  In the pagan and apostate world we are to go through life trusting in the Lord.  No matter your situation–trust Him.  No matter the storm–trust Him.  No matter the obstacles in your path–trust Him.  No matter what the devil throws at you–trust Him.  In other words, no matter what, know that God has everything under control and that we are to trust Him.

               “God holds the key of all unknown,
                       And I am glad;
               If other hands should hold the key,
               Or if He trusted it to me,
                       I might be sad.

               I cannot read His future plans,
                       But this I know:
               I have the smiling of His face,
               And all the refuge of His grace,
                       While here below.”
                               –Joseph Parker

                         –Psalm 34:8 (NKJV)
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My, oh my, sometimes we don’t see, sometimes we are foolish, and sometimes we don’t know what we are to see.  I read a great story from William and Randy Petersen’s book on Psalms which I’ll share.  Two close friends, who hadn’t seen each other in years were able to make contact again.  One became involved in the theater and the show was performing in the other friend’s town.  The show business friend invited her to come watch the show.  “That Friday night she got to the theater just before curtain time.  All she could afford was a rear balcony seat, but she enjoyed the play from that lofty perch.  Meanwhile, her friend, the actress, looked out from the stage and saw an empty seat in the front row–the seat she had reserved for her friend.  Only later did they realize the mix-up.  The actress wanted to treat her friend to the choicest of seats, but the other person didn’t know enough to ask for her reserved ticket.”

          11 — But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me.
          12 — So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels.
          13 — Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!
          14 — I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries.
          15 — The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to Him, but their fate would endure forever.
          16 — He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock I would have satisfied them. (NKJV)

       In Psalm 81, we see that the Lord wants to feed us “with the best of foods” (NLT).  He wants us to be satisfied from His table and it is spread, ready for us.  All we need to do is find our seat at the table.  Look at the goodness of the Lord, look at what He has done for you and think of the blessings that He has in store for you as you partake of His banquet.  Derek Kidner said, “He gives the best, and brings the sweetness out of that which is harsh, forbidding, and wholly unpromising.”  Paul and Silas knew this, that’s why they could sing in prison, and the result was souls saved, the kingdom enhanced, and the Lord glorified.
       So many choose to live in bitterness and regret and that includes Christians.  The truth of the matter is that the Lord wants you to be satisfied at His table.  It is when we choose to go our own way, when we make decisions without consulting Him or His Word that we get into trouble and find our lives facing disaster.  Those who choose against the Lord’s will have their fate sealed forever.  The NIV says that they will “cringe before Him.”  Yet the table is spread, His arms are open and inviting us to partake.  The choice is ours.  “There’s Honey in the Rock, my brother, There’s Honey in the Rock for you; Leave your sins for the blood to cover, There’s Honey in the Rock for you.”  (F.A. Graves)

                    “I’ve a message full of love, hallelujah!
                    A message, O my friend, for you;
                    ‘Tis a message from above, hallelujah!
                    Jesus said it, and I know its true:
                    Look and live!”
                             –William A. Ogden