The Storm and a Story of a Saving Faith
Introduction:
As we begin this morning, I want to take a few moments and lay the groundwork for the direction that I feel the Lord would have us to go in for these days of meeting.
It’s on my heart to talk about some of the storm scenes in God’s word.
I guess I can use my wife as an illustration this morning since she’s not here. She has become an amateur meteorologist over the past year or so. At least, that’s my conclusion. Whenever these hurricanes and tropical storms begin to form, in order to keep track of their progress and how it is going to affect us, she regularly watches Fox News and CNN. But mostly, she watches The Weather Channel. In watching The Weather Channel she has discovered this program that comes on every night at 8 and at 8:30 called “Storm Stories.” And basically each program focuses upon an individual or group of people and their perspective of some major storm or their experiences in a major storm that has taken place.
Now Angie knows better than to watch this program, because every time a cloud rolls in to High Point, she has already imagined the worst. She has already imagined our house being destroyed in some tropical storm or hurricane coming through our area. But her fears are not without foundation, because there have been major storm surges that have come through our region.
A storm is defined as “a disturbance of the ordinary conditions of the atmosphere often accompanied by wind, rain, snow, sleet, hail, or thunder and lightning.” To some degree, we have all experienced and seen atmospheric disturbances. But I suspect that every person in this building has also seen and experienced life disturbances. You see, we all go through storms in our lives – whether it is spiritual storms, physical storms, emotional storms, financial storms, relational storms, vocational storms or any other kind.
As much as we might want to ignore and even deny the destructive nature of storms, may I remind you that the very first storm on record actually destroyed the whole world? I’m referring of course to the great flood of Noah’s day.
I came across this interesting list of life lessons learned from the account of Noah. It’s called…
All I Really Needed to Know, I Learned From Noah’s Ark
These lessons are…
1. Plan Ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
2. Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.
3. Don’t listen to critics—do what has to be done.
4. Build on high ground.
5. For safety’s sake travel in pairs. Two heads are better than one.
6. Speed isn’t always an advantage. The cheetahs were on board, but so were the snails.
7 If you can’t fight or flee … float!
8. Don’t forget that we’re all in the same boat.
9. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals.
10. Remember that the woodpeckers inside are often a bigger threat than the storm on the outside.
11. Don’t miss the boat.
12. No matter how bleak it looks, if God is with you, there’s always a rainbow on the other side
Of course, these are not the only lessons we can learn from this chronicle of catastrophe. I’m convinced that the account of Noah’s Ark also offers a very real picture of God’s great salvation.
I’m borrowing the title of that program on The Weather Channel and my theme for this meeting is “Storm Stories.” And specifically, I want to magnify the concept of faith as it relates to the storms that we go through. So we’re going to be dealing with “How Faith Works in Foul Weather,” or if you prefer … “Trusting Christ in Tempestuous Conditions.”
This morning, I want to talk to you about “A Storm And A Story Of Saving Faith.
I read about a storm that was called “the storm of the century.” It had waves over one hundred feet high. It was a tempest created by so rare a combination of factors that meteorologists deemed it “the perfect storm.” When it struck in October 1991, there was virtually no warning. “She’s comin’ on, boys, and she’s comin’ on strong,” radioed Captain Billy Tyne of the Andrea Gail off the coast of Nova Scotia, and soon afterward the boat and its crew of six disappeared without a trace. Sebastian Junger wrote a fictional book about the events that took place on the Andrea Gail. It was eventually made into a movie, and both the book and the movie were called “The Perfect Storm.” It could have even been called “the storm to end all storms,” the Big One!
The account before us this morning though, was the storm to begin all storms. It was the big one, but it was also the first one. And since we are likening these events in Genesis 6 to salvation. I might interject here that before we ever face a storm that is related to our service or our situation as a believer, the first storm that we face is the storm that is related to sin. That’s exactly what the great flood was … a storm that was related to sin. You see, as this storm story begins …
I. We Find The Corruption In This Account
A. Notice The Corruption Of Their Marital Choices vs. 1-4
1. These Were Flippant Choices
There marriages are described in the same context as an indulgence of fleshly appetite such as eating and drinking.
(Luke 17:26-27) And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. {27} They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
2. These Were Fickle Choices
(Genesis 6:2) That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
The primary meaning of this word “chose” is “to try.” (977. bachar, baw-khar') These were trial marriages, and if they didn’t work out, they would simply find somebody else.
B. Notice The Corruption Of Their Mental Contrivances vs. 5-6
1. The Bible Mentions Their Conceptual Evil
imagination (vs. 5) – Hebrew 3336. yetser, yay'-tser; from H3335; a form; fig. conception (i.e. purpose):--frame, thing framed, mind, work.
thoughts of his heart – Hebrew 4284. machashabah, makh-ash-aw-baw'; or machashebeth, makh-ash-eh'-beth; from H2803; a contrivance, intention, plan:--cunning (work), curious work, device (-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought.
They were inventing new ways to do wrong. Sound familiar?
2. The Bible Mentions Their Continual Evil
(Genesis 6:5) And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
a. There Is The Guilty Heart Of Man vs. 5
b. There Is The Grieved Heart Of The Maker vs. 6
C. Notice The Corruption Of Their Manifested Cruelty vs. 11-12
1. Let’s Consider The Ramifications Of This Corruption
(Genesis 6:11-12) The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. {12} And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
violence – Hebrew 2555. chamac, khaw-mawce'; from H2554;; by implication it means wrong:-- cruel, false, unrighteous.
corrupt / corrupted – Hebrew 7843. shachath, shaw-khath'; a primary root; to decay, ruin:-- destroy, lose, mar, perish, spoiler, utterly, waste.
2. Let’s Consider The Reach Of This Corruption
(Genesis 6:11) The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Does this only apply to Noah’s day? No, for…
(Romans 3:10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
(Romans 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
II. We Face The Condemnation In This Account
A. Notice The Sadness Of This Judgment vs. 3
(Genesis 6:3) And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
(2 Thessalonians 2:7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
B. Notice The Scope Of This Judgment vs. 7
(Genesis 6:7) And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out!”
C. Notice The Surety Of This Judgment vs. 13, 17
Cf. 2 Peter 2:1-9
(Genesis 6:7) And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
(Genesis 6:17) And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
But God is not some cosmic bully that wants to obliterate all of mankind.
III. We Feel The Compassion In This Account
A. Notice The Term Of Affection vs. 8
grace – Hebrew 2580. chen, khane; from H2603; graciousness, i.e. subj. (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty):--favour, pleasant, precious, [well-] favoured.
B. Notice The Type In The Ark vs. 14-16
The Ark A Type Of The Plan Of Human Salvation And Of Christ
1. Like the ark, the plan of human salvation was wrought out after a divinely given arrangement and method.
a. Like the ark, the scheme of salvation was not conceived by any human mind.
b. Like the ark, the scheme of salvation was originated by God, and was the outworking of a divine plan.
2. The ark had a window above, and the light of God from above illuminates the plan of human salvation.
a. The plan of human salvation is illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
b. This illumination of the plan of salvation is the abiding comfort and joy of man.
3. The ark had a single door, and similarly, so into the plan of human salvation there is but one method of entrance.
a. Like the ark, the scheme of salvation has an entrance. Christ is the way to eternal safety.
b. Like the ark, the scheme of salvation has but one entrance.
(John 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
4. That like the ark, the scheme of human salvation is efficient to the accomplishment of the designed purpose.
In other words, “It works.”
5. That like the ark, the scheme of human salvation is neglected by the vast multitude.
Lessons:
a. Like the ark, the plan of human salvation was thought to be very unlikely and improbable for the purpose.
It was mocked by the world.
b. A divine method of salvation has been provided for the human race from the coming judgment.
c. This salvation is equal to all the need of the case. (God’s grace is sufficient to save.)
d. Men who neglect or despise this means of salvation are sure to perish.
e. It is wise to enter the ark at once.
(Derived from Joseph S. Exell’s statements as found in The Biblical Illustrator)
Also, the ark was a means of permanently escaping this type of intense judgment.
(Genesis 9:8-17) And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, {9} And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; {10} And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. {11} And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. {12} And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: {13} I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. {14} And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: {15} And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. {16} And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. {17} And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
A type only gives part of the picture, and as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” The token of God’s covenant of salvation for Noah was a rainbow. It was the type that we see in our day … a semi-circular rainbow. But when we get to Heaven, we will see a token of God’s everlasting covenant of salvation through Christ. We will see what John saw…
(Revelation 4:1-3) After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. {2} And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. {3} And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
C. Notice The Testimony Of Acceptance vs. 22
(Genesis 6:22) Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
(Hebrews 11:7) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
(Ephesians 2:8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Conclusion
I came across a very interesting storm story that I want to share with you in closing this morning. Hurricane Charley slammed into Florida on Friday, August 13, 2004, and became known as the worst storm since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. It claimed 27 lives, destroyed more than 10,000 homes and resulted in more than $10 billion of insurance claims.
Many of the signs and billboards in the area were no match for Hurricane Charley. However, one billboard resisted the 100-mile per hour winds of the eye wall of the storm. Though the billboard stood, the most recent advertisement was pealed back by the hurricane’s winds to reveal an earlier message. The earlier message had been created a few years prior by the Smith Agency of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which had handled an assignment from a client by placing a variety of billboards bearing non-denominational religious messages around the U.S. When the sun rose the morning following the storm in Orlando, the words on the billboard clearly read, “ ‘We need to talk’ - God.”
(By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2005, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN JOB pkennedy6@yahoo.com)
Perhaps this morning, God wants to speak to you. And the ark that survived the storm of judgment is standing as a sign and a reminder that God can still save “to the uttermost that come unto God by” Jesus (Hebrews 7:25).
If you are standing out in the storm of sin, if the clouds of condemnation are billowing over your head, I want to urge you this morning to get on board the ark of safety (the old ship of Zion). Just as you are right now, Christ wants to invite you to come inside the ark of safety this morning.
“You have been once more warned today, while the door of the ark yet stands open.”
Jonathan Edwards
Love Lifted Me
Words: James Rowe
Music: Howard E. Smith
I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Refrain
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I'll cling
In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul's best songs,
Faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs.
Refrain
Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love , out of the angry waves.
He's the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.
Refrain