Proverbs 22:3
A prudent man foresees the evil, and prepares himself: But the foolish ignore the signs, and are brought to ruin.
This particular proverb reminds me of the story of Noah and the Ark. The world at that time was filled with violence, immorality, corruption, and ignorance, all stemming from a deep seeded rebellion against God and his laws. However, Noah was like this prudent man. He had the spiritual wherewithal to see the evil coming and prepare his household against it. As a result of his relationship with God, he was warned concerning the great flood that was to come upon the earth, and the Lord showed him how to build a great vessel that would save him, his family, and many of the creatures upon the earth at that time.
For forty years while the great ark was being built, Noah spoke to the world around him, warning them day after day, and year after year of the coming flood, begging them to hear his words, and pleading with them to build themselves an ark. Another ark you say? Yep…there didn’t have to be just one ark. There easily could have been hundreds, or even thousands of arks built had people chosen to believe Noah’s words, and imitate Noah’s actions. But they didn’t, and according to the scriptures the flood came quickly and carried them away. These were the foolish that ignored the signs, refused to hear sound instruction, and were brought to a swift and tragic ruin. Only the eight lives that entered into the ark survived this great cataclysmic catastrophe that hit the world at that time in history. The only difference between Noah, his family, and the rest of the world was this… some were in, and the others were out!
Today, God has made it so easy for us all. He himself has prepared an ark of safety for all of humanity, in that he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to save the world from its sin. All we have to do to get in is apply his shed blood to the door of our hearts by simply believing! Wow! All of the goodness and grace of God comes to those who will just believe. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the things that have come and will continue to come upon the world. However, it does take the simple faith of a child to know what to do to be saved from them. All we have to do to be saved is have the faith to put our trust in Jesus Christ each and every day of our lives, and God is faithful to take care of the rest! Jesus is the ark of salvation, for whatever we might face, today, tomorrow; fifty years from now, or, even throughout all eternity. It is a simple decision. Are we in or out?
Pastor LaVaughn
