Year 2 Day 204

Year 2 Day 204


Pray (ACts)


Read - Genesis 7


Message - Scott Woodburn
I served as an assistant minister in the harbour port of Larne. Larne is a wonderful place with much beauty and many lovely people. I remember my days there fondly as I had lunch in Drains Bay or walked beside Chaine Memorial or as I looked out over the town from one of the old tower blocks. I also remember more sombre moments from my time in Larne, not least when the congregation would sing “Eternal Father, Stong to Save” on the Sunday closest to 31st January each year.


The song was significant because it spoke of “those in peril on the sea”. The date was significant because on that day in 1953 the MV Princess Victoria sank on its way back to Larne from Scotland. 135 people were lost and so to this day Larne people remember the peril and power of the sea.


I tell you this story as a reminder that creation often humbles us as people. We think we have mastered this world and everything in it until our lives come crashing down like a wave on a beach. The oceans make us feel small and their fury reminds us of our humanity. Only God is King and only He commands the sea.


As Noah and his family took their place on the ark the flood waters began to rise. God sent rain upon the earth for forty days and forty nights (v12) and as it rained the flood waters increased.  This was no localised flood that impacted just a wee part of the world. This flood was so fierce that even the mountains of the world were covered (v19). It’s hard to imagine such a catastrophic judgement. In those days if we viewed our planet from space all we would have seen was water. Nowhere to make a home. Nowhere to plant our feet. All life under the judgement of God and everything dead (v21).


Larne people knew not to mess with the ocean and many of them knew not to mess with Almighty God. I think we have lost sight of that truth. Sometimes we consider God to be a better version of ourselves. Sometimes we reckon that He is a genie who grants us wishes. Sometimes we imagine Him as a white bearded forgetful figure who treats us like his precious grandchildren.


Yet as we look at Genesis 7 we see Him in His holiness and righteous judgement as He commands the waters and destroys the earth. Please don’t respond to this by saying “that’s Old Testament…Jesus isn’t like that.” This is an ancient error called Marcionism. Remember that Christ is the eternal Son of God and that when the flood waters swept over the earth - Jesus was there and Jesus was God. Instead of falling into this error may the Spirit lead us into truth and the fear of the Lord.


Who is like the Lord? No one. Who commands the oceans aside from Him? No one. Who is as holy as the Lord? No one. Who is like the Lord? Who? No one. He is good. He is mighty. He is holy. He is the Lord.


Child of God draw near to the Lord today and be humble before Him. May you come to a deeper realisation of His holiness and might. May you remember that creation leaps at the word of the Creator. Almighty God is not a better version of you but in Christ He is for you. In Christ your feet have found solid ground for our God remains the eternal Father, strong to save.   


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.
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