Imagine the owner of the company you work at pulled you into his office and told you, he's about to fire everyone and clean house because no one is productive and off doing their own thing. You start picturing your family depending on you. Your bank expecting you to make payments on that home and car. Your kids tuition bills coming in. You say I need this job. Then he tells you, but you have been a good worker, a person of integrity, and faithful. Then, he gives you a crazy unrealistic project that only you are assigned to. What would you say? Of course sir, whatever you need.
Noah was a man in that situation and God assigned a crazy project to him. Build a huge ship to save you and your family and all the creatures of the earth. I need you to remain when I wipe out this earth as we know it. You will be part of the new beginning or fresh start. People laughed at him and his warnings of total destruction. God was giving hope for the future through a tool which was called the ARK or the boat. Noah's faith & obedience proved fruitful for all of us. Build it and get in it. That wooden boat sealed in tar was the hope for safety, redemption, and a new beginning. The boat was the hope.
The rains, winds, and flood waters may hit us and rise all around us, but we are in the boat which is the hope. The attacks of Satan will come at us from every which way to bring us down, but we are in the boat which is the hope. If you get in the boat and secure self in that hope, no matter what comes your way, your life is in His hands. He told you to get in, He will take care of you through the storms. The boat which is the hope wont sit on the ground for long, but it will float on the flood waters not sink in the waters. The storms don't come in our life to sink us or destroy us, but to show the power of hope rising. Our hope should be built on nothing less than Jesus Christ, the solid rock.
Our hope today is not in a wooden boat sealed in tar that we run to, but in a wooden cross sealed in a precious blood that Jesus poured out for you and I. He is our LIVING HOPE - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:3, 4 NIV)
When the flood waters receded Noah realized they were sitting on top of a mountain. If you believe in God and obey His commands, He does not do anything to hurt or destroy, but to lift up and make stronger. You started in a dry valley, but not you are top of the mountain. He is taking you to another level thru every situation in your life. Trust Him ... He's got you! And when you come out of each story, storm, and episode of your life, come out worshipping God. Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose. (Genesis 8:20 NLT)
Let your hope in Christ rise today. Run to the cross. Run to a living hope - His name is Jesus! Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:28, 29 KJV). We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. (Romans 5:1-6 NLT)
Your fresh start awaits you with a confirmation of a rainbow. If He has started a good work in you, He is faithful to finish what He starts.
Enjoy The Ride,
Cecil
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