The Last Invitation
Introduction
The Ark was God’s perfect provision for Noah’s family even as Christ is God’s perfect provision for each of us. The Ark is a picture of Christ in the Old Testament.
There is a tremendous contrast in the first few chapters of Genesis between two individuals Noah and Lot. Noah built an ark and pointed man to salvation (rescue), while Lot pitched a tent and pointed man to Sodom (a city of wickedness).
Noah’s obedience turned his entire family toward God (no greater joy).
Proverbs 20:7 - “The righteous man walks in his integrity;
His children are blessed after him.”
3 John 4 - “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
On the contrary, Lot’s popularity caused him to loose influence with his own family.
Genesis 19:14 - “So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, "Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!" But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.”
Here in Genesis 7 we see the 1st invitation in the Bible. Over 600 times we see an invitation to come to God all the way until Revelation 22:17.
Revelation 22:17 - “And the Spirit and the bride say, “’Come!’” And let him who hears say, “’Come!’” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
“This is an unlimited offer of grace and salvation to all who desire to have their thirsty souls quenched.” John McArthur
“water of life” – symbolizes the continued flow of eternal life from God’s throne.
The Lord uses 3 things in particular to call men and women to Himself.
1. The Word of God: Bible
Romans 10:17 - “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
2. The Spirit of God: Holy Spirit
John 16:8 - “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
John 16:13 - “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
John 16:15 - “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”
3. The Child of God: Christian
2 Corinthians 5:20 - “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.”
I. THE GRACIOUS (GRACE) INVITATION 1
A. Divine Invitation
Holy God inviting sinful people.
1 Peter 3:18 - “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God….” (you).
1. Unwavering Commitment of the Father.
“Noah, come into the ark” – personal invitation; one step of faith was all it took to bring him in.
2. Unwavering Commitment to the Family.
“you and all your household” – God is seen charging Noah with the spiritual responsibility of his family’s salvation.
Acts 16:31
“So they said, “’Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’”
B. Divine Observation
“because I have seen that you are righteous before Me.”
1. Inspiration for Holy Living
Joy – responsibility
2. Incentive for Holy Living
Matthew 10:42 - “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
The thought that our life can bring pleasure to God is of the greatest incentives.
C. Divine Obligation
“righteous before Me”
Genesis 6:8-9 - “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
“This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.”
This practically sums up everything that God demands from me.
Philippians 3:9 - “and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;”
D. Divine Commendation
“righteous before me in this generation” –
Hebrews 11:7 - “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”
II. THE GLORIOUS INSPIRATION 4
A. Urgent Instructions
“For after seven more days” – I have often reflected on Noah’s last sermons, their intensity, fervor, and urgency.
B. Ultimate Destruction
“I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made” – people would perish.
John 3:15-19 - “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
III. THE GODLY INSTRUCTIONS 5
Noah was in agreement with God and as a result did what the Lord told him to do; OBEDIENCE.
IV. THE GREATEST IDENTIFICATION 7, 16
A. Noah’s Obedience
Ark had only one door, all had but one way.
John 10:1 - “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”
John 10:9 - “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
1. Place of Security.
Protection from the coming judgement.
2. Place of Sufficiency
Colossians 3:3 - “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
ILLUSTRATION:
Genesis 6:14 - “Make yourself an Ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.”
“pitch” – same word for atonement in the New Testament; to make a cover.
B. Noah’s Office
Noah lead the way, he led his family into the ark. He represented his Father’s provision to his family.
C. Noah’s Outcome 16
“the Lord shut him in”
Revelation 3:7 - “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”
ILLUSTRATION: Narrative preaching – testimony of the last day of the last invitation.
CONCLUSION
Come to Christ (our Ark) while the door is still open.