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Violence and the Lesson of Noah
Americans are increasingly witness to immeasurable acts of wanton, gruesome, violence here at home. From the bombings in Boston, testimony in the trial of Jody Arias, killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School,and the murderous details coming from the abortion mills of Philadelphia and others, Americans have seen and been witnesses to it all. And if that was not enough, we were reminded yesterday of the mass murders from September 11, 2001, as a piece of one hijacked plane's landing gear, was discovered next to a proposed Islamic center in New York City. The site has again become an open crime scene and the terror attacks New York, Washington, Pennsylvavia, and now Boston, all haunt the American conscious.
There is no question that violence is raining down on America. No news outlet, no politician, no terrorism expert, nor anypsychiatrist, can adequately explain what we are seeing with our own eyes and heard with our own ears. Calls for increased gun control, birth control, population control, surveillance, taxation, and the like, are rampant. These are not real solutions. Truthfully, we all know that deep inside. The truth is that violence resides in the human heart.
There is also no question that violence has been raining down on the whole world. But the world has been a violent place since Cain slew Abel. Wanton human violence became so rampant in the days of Noah, that it was noted in Genesis:
"The earth was also corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth." Genesis 6: 11-13
It is important to note, that after passing judgement on mankind, God proceeded to instruct Noah on how to save himself and his family from the destruction that was to come. Noah, although human with human flaws, was counted a righteous man by faith.
"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 the heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Hebrews 11:7
Jesus also warned his disciples of the coming days of great tribulation and of His return. Jesus likened those days as to the days of Noah:
"But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark. And they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24: 37-39
The lesson learned from Noah is to prepare yourself and your family, not for destruction, but for salvation. That is good news!
Our ark, our salvation, is Jesus Christ.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."
John 3:16-17 .
Are you ready?
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