There once lived a man who was certain beyond all reasonable doubt that something catastrophic was going happen. His conviction came from a voice he heard. Maybe it was just in his head, maybe it was like someone sitting across the table from him, we don’t know. We do know, if you have an inkling of the story, that it was the voice of God. But the man, already far along in years, was given a prophecy; the world as you know it is going to end. It’s full of evil and wickedness and things have to change.
Try to imagine that conversation in today’s vernacular.
God: “Noah, we have a problem. The world has gone so far astray from my original plan, that I can no longer allow its current existence. So, here’s what I want you to do: build a big ship, big enough for you and your family and a few animals.”
Noah: “Um, like the whole world? Surely not everybody. Everybody?”
God: “Unfortunately, yes. Oh, and by the way, it’s going to take you 120 years to build this boat. Better get on it.” Genesis 6:13-22, MSG.
Here’s Noah and his sons, building a barge in the middle of nowhere, approximately 500 miles from the sea. Can you imagine the ridicule he and his family endured in what had become a sinful, hate-filled generation? With every hammer of a nail, God was warning His people, all of His people, that judgement was coming. But they were too busy working, partying, marrying, and doing their own thing. Matthew 24:38 MSG. And nobody gave any thought to crazy, old Noah and his childish, outdated, restrictive belief in God. And then came the rain…and all hell broke loose.
Skeptics, people far too wise and worldly, disdainfully question why an all knowing, all loving God would destroy his own people, especially when we read about Noah. But we tend to gloss over the timeline; 120 years. God gave people of that generation 120 years to change. And he gave them an unmistakeable sign: an ark in the middle of nowhere. God gave people a sign and He gave them time. And they scoffed, they laughed, they ignored, and they walked away from the table. That’s a key point in this and many stories in the Bible; we walk away. We’re not fans of the rules, the subjugation and the wrath. So, we dismiss the idea of God entirely. Makes it much easier to do or ignore things that we innately, gutturally know are wrong.
Have you caught the water theme here? The story of the flood is baptism. “…Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:5. In the millennia to follow, there would be more signs, more prophecies, more time to come to our senses until the last and greatest ark would be built, destroyed and raised again. Raised from ashes as promised. It is a promise of hope, of redemption and of ever lasting peace. But you have to humble yourself to believe in the ark that is Christ. Then, you have to be willing to change your life; to walk away from everything pulling you from the table. You will have endure ridicule and exile from a world that has turned its back on God. It’s a grueling task at times, but we are called to “run the good race and fight the good fight.” 2 Timothy 4:7
We are also called to boldly express our faith in God and Christ.
A couple of days ago, apparently the majority of people in my state have expressed everything from indifference to unmitigated approval of extensive abortion rights. Those last two words, abortion and rights are as contradictive as the people who support them. No matter how anybody tries to spin it, abortion ends a life. That decision has consequences on the mother, the father, the families of each and the entire world, in this life and the next. How many millions have been slaughtered who had the potential to solve the energy problem, the hunger problem, the homeless problem…the cancer problem? Eh, but it’s not our problem, right?
Not yet.
I have a fair idea who reads these blogs every week. It’s not my typical theme, but I feel compelled to express my feelings, especially to my brothers and sisters who claim to share faith in Christ.
Do you see what’s happening all around us? Do you know Scripture well enough to understand the signs of times? Are we fighting the good fight? Not one of flesh and bone, but of spirit. Are we running boldly toward the ark or are we too afraid of what others may think? Worse still, are we indifferent? Revelation 3:16-18.
"Two men will be in the filed; one will be taken and the other left...Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." Matthew 24:42
I speak from painful experience. You think your whole life is in front of you. You put off your faith, allow certain indulgences thinking that you can ask for forgiveness later. You see yourself sitting on the porch with the one you've loved for a long time. All of the sudden, without warning, the realities of this imperfect world put that foolish vision to rest.
The rain is coming…
Dave Magliano
Tatsu Dojo
Jissenkan Budo
Dojo Cho
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