Well, please take your Bibles and let's open them up this morning to Genesis chapter 9.
! Genesis chapter 9. If you're using the pew Bibles in front of you, if you didn't bring a Bible of your own,
you can use those pew Bibles there in front of you in the seat back in front. And you can find our passage,
Genesis chapter 9, on page 6 of that pew Bible there in front of you. But when you found it,
let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word.
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of
the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand
they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green
plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. And for
your lifeblood I will require a reckoning. From every beast I will require it and from man. From his
fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall
his blood be shed. For God made man in his own image. And you be fruitful and multiply and increase
greatly on the earth and multiply in it. Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, Behold,
I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you. And with every living creature that is
with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you. As many as came out of the
ark, it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you that never again shall all flesh
be cut off by the waters of the flood. And never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.
And God said, This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living
creature that is with you for all future generations. I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign
of the covenant between me and all the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in
the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of
all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the
clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of
all flesh that is on the earth. God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant that I have established
between me and all flesh that is on the earth. The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem,
Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the
people of the whole earth were dispersed. Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.
He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan,
saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment,
laid it on both of their shoulders, and walked backward, and covered the nakedness of their father.
Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness. When Noah awoke from
his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said, Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants
shall he be to his brothers. He also said, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem, and let Canaan be his
servant. May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.
After the flood, Noah lived 350 years. All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died.
The grass withers, and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever. Father, we praise
you for this word. We believe it is God-breathed that is good for us, and so we pray now that you
would speak through it. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. You may be seated.
Amanda and I, since being married, have had the opportunity to live in several different places.
We met in college in Georgia, and we lived there for a time before moving up to Charlotte,
and then from Charlotte, North Carolina, it was down to North Myrtle Beach, and then from North
Myrtle Beach, now down here to Allendahl. And each move for us, it represented sort of a new start.
It was a new phase of life. And of course, every time that we moved to a new place, we had questions.
Some of the core things remained the same. We still had to go out and buy groceries, but
when we moved to Charlotte, it was no longer Kroger, now it was Harris Teeter.
We still, after moving from North Myrtle Beach, we still go to the beach, but now it's Isle of Palms
instead of Cherry Grove. And my role at the church was different in North Myrtle Beach than it is here.
In each new place, we had to kind of figure out what work would look like, what life would look like.
Each new start came with new opportunities, new challenges, and new questions.
As we come here to Genesis chapter 9 this morning, we see this is a new start for Noah.
But not just for Noah, this is a new start for all of humanity, isn't it?
God has moved Noah and his family now to a new place. He has wiped the slate clean on the old world,
and so now, as he finally steps foot onto dry land, I can imagine that he's asking some of those same
questions that we might ask. Questions like, well, what do we eat?
What are we supposed to do now? What do we give our time to?
What will life look like here in this renewed world?
Our passage this morning, it gives us our bearings for life in this new beginning.
What is life like after the flood?
And you know, if we felt kind of far from the world that we saw pictured for us in Genesis 1 and 2,
there in the Garden of Eden, if that felt foreign to us,
we really ought to feel a lot more at home here in our passage this morning.
Because this passage, it explains some important details for life in our world today after the flood.
So let's take a look here, and we'll see three questions this morning.
Three questions for life after the flood.
If you're taking notes, this is our outline this morning.
Three questions for life after the flood.
Question number one, what's changed?
What's changed? What's different?
And at first glance, as you look through the passage, it seems like not much, right?
This is sort of like one of those highlights magazines activities where you have the two pictures side by side,
and you have to spot the subtle differences between the two pictures.
This looks so similar to the first new beginning,
the new beginning that we saw in the first chapters of Genesis with Adam and Eve.
Verses 1 through 7, it gives us an idea here of what's the same and what's different.
One similarity, we see, is that God's blessing and God's command are the same, aren't they?
Here, just as at the beginning with Adam, God blesses Noah,
and here, just as at the beginning, God gives him this same exact command, doesn't he?
Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
In fact, he says it twice.
He says it there in verse 1 and again in verse 7.
He sort of bookends this first section by repeating this command.
Go, be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth.
And so we see here that the mission is still the same, isn't it?
God still plans to fill the earth with his image.
That's one similarity.
We see another similarity here in verses 2 through 4.
Just as with Adam in the garden, so now Noah and his family are to rule over the animals.
Humans are not part of the animal kingdom.
They are not equal with the animals.
They're not just the most developed or evolved form of the animals.
They are distinct from them, and God says they are to rule over them.
That's a similarity here on this side of the flood, but with one key difference.
You notice this?
On this side of the fall, on this side of the flood, now, verse 2,
the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth
and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground
and all fish of the sea.
In other words, now the animals are afraid of the humans.
I grew up watching some of the old Disney princess movies.
I have three sisters.
I didn't have a say in it.
This was just forced upon me from the outside.
But if you've seen any of the old movies, you know when they walk outside
and they start singing, what happens?
The birds come and land on their shoulder, and the squirrels come and nuzzle up next to them,
and the bunnies and the deer, they're all happy, and they all get along.
Those must have taken place before the flood.
Because now, on the other side of the flood, the animals are afraid.
And for good reason, right?
Because we see in verse 3, verse 3 tells us that now in this new beginning, guess what?
Humans get to eat the animals.
And all God's people said, amen, right?
The Lord says in verse 3,
Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you.
As I gave you the green plants, now I give you everything.
So if you want to eat the plants, if you want to have a salad, go ahead, enjoy it.
It's good.
But praise God, now on this side of the flood, the menu has expanded.
And now we get steak, brisket, pulled pork, chicken legs, right?
But even so, even though God says, now, Noah, you can go kill and eat,
God makes certain that we understand here, even so, even on this side of the flood,
life is precious.
Life is precious.
This is the third similarity here, in fact.
We see it in verses 4 through 6, and it's this.
It's that all life is valuable, especially the life of mankind.
All life is valuable.
God regulates the killing of animals here, but especially, especially the life of mankind.
God gives the animals to Noah for food, but with this one regulation,
He says, don't eat the animals with the lifeblood still in them.
You can eat the animals, Noah, but you're not an animal.
Don't eat the animals with the blood still in them.
Their blood, because it represents their life, is precious.
And we can look ahead and see this reaffirmed throughout the Old Testament
and the dietary laws for Israel.
Their blood, their life is valuable.
And think about this, church.
If that's true, if the blood and the life of an animal is valuable in the sight of God,
how much more valuable is the life and the blood of humans?
If God's going to give instruction for the life and the shedding of an animal blood,
of course He gives direction here concerning the shedding of human blood.
Look there to verse 5.
God says, for your lifeblood, the lifeblood of humans,
I will require a reckoning.
From every beast I will require it, and from man,
from his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.
Why?
For God made man in His own image.
Human life is especially valuable in the sight of God.
So much so, in fact, that God says,
if you take a life, you pay for it with your own life.
This is God instituting here a version of the death penalty.
He says human life is precious and valuable in the eyes of God.
It is worth protecting.
It is worthy of dignity.
Why?
Because again, verse tells us the reason why is that
even here after the fall, even here after the flood,
every single person is made in the image of God.
All people.
Humans with dark skin, humans with light skin,
humans with money, humans without money,
humans who vote how you vote,
humans who don't vote how you vote,
illegal immigrants and natural-born citizens,
Christians and atheists and Muslims,
and Buddhists, all people,
share this God-given fundamental dignity.
We are all made in the image of God.
Now, we have to be careful not to absorb
the world's way of thinking and valuing people.
Those who have certain disabilities
are of no less value in the eyes of the Lord
than the most capable, important person
in the eyes of the world.
Those who can't contribute much to society anymore
due to age or health or limitations
are just as worthy of life and protection
and dignity as the strongest
and most productive member of society.
Those who have not yet made it outside of the womb
are just as worthy of dignity and honor
and respect and protection
as those who have made it outside of the womb.
How shameful is it that in our country,
turtle eggs have greater protections in place
than unborn life in the womb?
How shameful is it that such a thing as segregation
existed no more than 70 years ago in this country?
Christians of all people
uphold the sanctity and the dignity
of all human life.
Why?
The reason is because all human people,
all individuals, every single person
is made in the image of God.
So, we see here first,
many similarities,
a few key differences here
in the post-flood world.
But if I'm Noah,
I have another big question on my mind.
Do you know what it is?
What about God's wrath?
That's my second question here
on this side of the flood.
What about God's wrath?
God just saw the sinfulness of the world
and He flooded it.
If I'm Noah,
I'm wondering,
how can I be certain
that that's not going to happen again?
How close do I need to set up camp?
How close do I need to live next to the ark?
God speaks here in verses 8-17
to put these fears at ease.
He's already promised
at the end of chapter 8.
But now He seals the deal
by making Noah a new promise.
He makes Noah a covenant.
You remember that term, covenant.
God established a covenant
with Adam in the garden.
And you remember what we discussed.
Covenant defines the relationship.
You remember this.
Ligon Duncan defines covenant
as a special relationship
established and bestowed by God
that has blessings and obligations
and is of life and death significance.
So here God says, verse 9,
I establish my covenant.
It's clear this covenant is God initiated.
This is coming from the top down.
Nobody's twisting God's arm
to establish this covenant.
He is initiating this promise.
And the promise, He says,
who's it with?
He says, it's with you, Noah,
and your offspring with you
and with every living creature
that is with you.
All the birds and the livestock,
every beast of the earth with you.
As many as come out of the ark,
it is for every beast of the earth.
In other words,
this is a common grace covenant,
not a special grace covenant.
covenant.
This promise is made with all people,
not just with God's people.
And it's not just all people.
It is made with all creatures.
All creatures,
all animals are included in this covenant
over and over and over again.
We see it repeated in this passage.
My covenant here is with all flesh.
My covenant is with every living creature.
So again, atheists and Muslims,
Jews and Gentiles,
believers and non-believers,
dogs, cats, lions, tigers, bears,
all of them are on the receiving end
of the blessings of this covenant.
This is a worldwide,
all-encompassing,
unconditional, forever promise.
And what's the promise?
Verse 11.
Never again shall all flesh be cut off
by the waters of the flood.
Never again shall there be a flood
to destroy all the earth.
Never again.
In other words, Noah,
you don't have to live
with one foot in the ark
and one foot on dry land.
You don't have to live in worry
that I will act in wrath against sin
to destroy the world with a flood ever again
while the earth remains,
he said in chapter 8.
Seed time and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night shall not cease.
This is a covenant of preservation.
Herman Bavink,
he calls it a covenant of long-suffering.
God says, in essence,
he says,
I am going to preserve all things,
maintain regularity
in this sinful world
in order to bring it
to my appointed end.
I will be patient
and long-suffering.
Now I will preserve this world
for the coming of the Messiah.
And as a sign of this promise,
God says in verse 13,
he says,
I will set my bow in the cloud
and it shall be a sign of the covenant
between me and the earth.
When I bring clouds over the earth
and the bow is seen in the clouds,
I will remember my covenant
that is between me and you
and every living creature
of all flesh.
You know, the bow
in the ancient Near East,
in this context,
the bow,
that's a pretty common weapon of war.
It's a symbol of death
and destruction
and violence.
But now,
God takes this image
of fear
and violence
and war
and he transforms it
into something beautiful.
God,
God in essence,
is hanging up
his war bow.
So it's no longer
a symbol of wrath.
Now it's a symbol
of peace.
And you notice
where the bow is pointing.
It's not pointing down
towards us
to fire down at the earth.
It's pointing up
towards heaven.
As if God is saying,
should I ever
break my promise to you,
may I be on the receiving end
of this wrath.
May I be destroyed
if I don't keep my promise
to you.
Well, that is astounding grace,
isn't it, church?
It's unfortunate
that many in our culture
have hijacked this sign
and reinterpreted it
as a badge of approval
of all sorts of sexual sin.
You know,
we need to recover
its meaning
and teach our children
its meaning
and make sure
we understand
what this symbol is
up in the sky
that God's given us
to see.
When we look up
at the sky
after a rain
and we see a rainbow,
we ought to be reminded
of the long suffering
of our God.
We ought to be reminded
of his patience
patience
with sinners
like us.
All of the ordinary things
that we take for granted,
every changing
of the season
is a reminder
of his faithfulness.
Every rising
of the sun
and of the moon
is a reminder
of his faithfulness.
Every rainbow
after a storm
is a reminder
that our God
is faithful
and he's able
to preserve
his people
through every trial.
I love this quote
from Marcus Dodds.
He says,
the rainbow
is a sign
that God
has no pleasure
in destruction,
that he does not
give way to moods,
that he does not
always chide,
that if weeping
may endure for a night,
joy is sure to follow.
If anyone
is under a cloud
leading a joyless,
heartless life,
if anyone
has much apparent
reason to suppose
that God
has given him up
to the catastrophe
and lets things run
as they may,
there is some
satisfaction
in reading
this natural emblem
and recognizing it,
recognizing that
without the cloud,
nay,
without the cloud
breaking into
heavy sweeping rains,
there cannot be
the bow
and that no cloud
of God's sending
is permanent
but will one day
give place
to unclouded joy.
Church,
in order to
reach that
unclouded joy,
we have a third
question that
we need answered,
don't we?
Question number three,
what about
our sin?
What about
our sin?
Praise God
he's patient
with sinners.
Amen?
Praise God
he is long
suffering,
that he
delays
his wrath
but what about
the problem
of our sin?
Has the flood
washed it away?
the rest of the passage
here,
verses 18 through 29,
show us that
the tragic answer
is no.
Here,
even in this
new beginning,
this fresh start,
sin
and all of
its destructive
effects
still reigns
over all people.
Look there
with me
to verse 20.
We see here
that now
after the flood,
Noah
began to be
a man
of the soil
and that's
what I'm going
to call
farmers
from now on
by the way.
They're not
farmers anymore,
they are men
and women
of the soil.
He says
he planted
himself a vineyard.
Things are going
great.
He is
subduing
the earth.
He's exercising
dominion.
He's laboring.
This is obedience
to God's command.
This is good.
It says
he drank
some of the wine.
This is also
good.
He's enjoying
the fruit of his
labor.
This is
good.
But then
it says
he became
drunk
and that's
not
good.
Even more
so
he lay
uncovered
naked
in his
tent.
Now that's
really not
good.
The scriptures
are very
clear.
Wine is a
good gift.
It gladdens
the heart
of man
but the
Bible is
also
explicitly
clear that
drunkenness
is not
good.
Drunkenness
is sinful
and Noah
here
he's
demonstrating
a sinful
lack of
self-control.
As we see
this whole
event happening
and we read
this it
all just
make us
want to
scream
what are
you
thinking?
This is
no different.
You are
just like
Adam.
Just think
about this
for a minute.
Noah here
he has been
given the
chance of
a lifetime
hasn't
he?
He has
just been
given grace
upon grace
he alone
him and his
family
out of all
the earth
have been
spared
from the
judgment
that they
deserve
for their
sin.
He's been
given this
opportunity
for a
fresh start
in a new
world
and almost
immediately
he drinks
himself drunk
and goes
laid naked
in his tent
for all to
see.
It is an
embarrassment.
Well this
new start
it ends
the same
old way
with another
fall into
sin.
Clearly
we see a
flood was
not enough
to resolve
his biggest
issue.
He still
had this
internal
problem
this internal
issue called
sin that's
ruling over
him.
You know
sometimes we
tend to think
that maybe
a new start
is all we
need.
We have
problems at
our old
job and so
we go run
to a new
job.
We have
problems with
one marriage
and so we
run to the
next relationship.
We have
problems in
one church
and so we
run ourselves
to a new
church.
But the
problem is
guess what?
We take
our sin
with us.
We may
think that
all we need
is just to
turn over
a new leaf
and try
something
different
have a new
start but
unless this
problem of
sin is dealt
with nothing
ultimately
changes does
it?
And notice
here too by
the way when
did Noah
fall?
When did
Noah fall
into temptation
and sin?
When did
he fall from
the state of
grace?
He didn't let
his guard
down during
the storm
did he?
He let
his guard
down once
the storm
had passed.
Up to this
point Noah
has been a
model of
faithfulness.
It wasn't
the trial
that wore
him down
it was
peace.
It wasn't
the storm
that wore
him down
it was
the time
of peace
it wasn't
until after
the storm
had passed
that Noah
falls into
sin.
Well let
this be a
lesson for
us church.
We need
our guard
up not only
in times
of trial
but also
especially
so in
times of
rest.
Some of y'all
I know
are walking
through times
of trial
right now
and you
are praying
more than
you ever
have.
You are
clinging
to Christ.
You are
trusting God
to hold
you up.
You're
reaching out
to him
asking for
his help
and all
of that
is so
so good
but remember
if the
storm
passes
when the
storm
passes
keep
clinging
to Christ.
keep
praying
keep
trusting
God
to hold
you
up
keep
calling
out
to him
as helpless
in need
of his
grace.
You need
him just
as much
in clear
skies
as you
do in
the clouds.
Noah
just like
Adam
falls
into sin
and just
like Adam
before him
he experiences
the shame
and the
disgrace
of his
nakedness
but it's
not just
him.
Look what
happens
next.
Verse 22
says Ham
the father
of Canaan
now that's
the second
time he's
pointed that
out.
Did you
notice that?
Ham the
father of
Canaan
he tells
us twice
up in
verse 18
and again
here in
verse 22.
Why does
he do
that?
Well it
might not
mean much
to us
but think
again about
the context
here.
Think about
the Israelites
hearing this
text.
Remember
where they
are as
they receive
this book.
They are
preparing to
enter the
promised land.
And do you
remember who's
there?
It's the
Canaanites.
The Canaanites
from this point
forward in the
book of Genesis
and onward are
sort of the
arch nemesis of
Israel.
They're the bad
guys.
So this passage
helps explain
who they are
and where they
came from
and how they
got to be so
evil and so
wicked.
So verse 20
Ham the
father of
Canaan
sees the
nakedness of
his father
and instead
of turning
his eyes
and covering
his father's
shame and
respecting his
father he
goes and
makes a scene
of it.
He goes and
tells his
brothers.
We don't
know exactly
what this
looked like
but clearly
Ham acted
in irreverence
and disrespect.
Does that
sound familiar
to you at
all?
It should.
just as
the serpent
acted in
a way that
revealed the
shameful nakedness
of Adam
and Eve
so now
Ham makes
a mockery
of his
father's
nakedness.
And just
as God
had done
for Adam
and Eve
in covering
up their
shame with
animal skin
so now
we see
Shem and
Japheth
cover up
their father's
shameful
nakedness
with their
own covering.
Do you see
a pattern here?
Do you see
the cycle?
We are
seeing
again
here
even on
this side
of the
flood
the unfolding
drama
of the
seed
of the
woman
and the
seed
of the
serpent.
You remember
from Genesis
chapter 3
verse 15
God promises
I will put
enmity
between you
the serpent
and the
woman
between
your
offspring
and her
offspring
he will
bruise your
head
you shall
bruise
his
heel.
This account
here in
Genesis 9
with all
of his
repetition
and all
of his
mirror like
images
to the
first creation
with Adam
and Eve
it shows us
some very
bad news.
The flood
didn't
wash away
sin
and
the flood
didn't
drown
the serpent.
Noah
is a sinner
just like
Adam
and now
Ham
is proving
himself
to be
the seed
of the
serpent.
So verse
24 says
Noah wakes
up and
realizes what
had happened
and just as
God pronounced
judgment
and promise
and blessing
after the fall
in chapter 3
so now
Noah pronounces
judgment
and blessing
here after
his fall
in Genesis 9
the seed of
the serpent
is cursed
in verse 25.
Cursed be
Canaan.
He will be
a servant
of servants
the lowest
of the low
does that
sound familiar?
On your
belly you will
go and
dust you will
eat all the
days of your
life.
And on the
other hand
Shem
the ancestor
of Israel
and Japheth
his brother
will be
blessed.
All of this
just sounds
like we're back
in Genesis
chapter 3
again doesn't
it?
Over
and over
again
everything
is the
same
and yet
everything
is different.
After all
of this
a global
flood
a new
start
it seems
like we're
back to
square one
doesn't it?
The conflict
of the seeds
is continuing
the fight
is still
going on
the problem
of sin
still rages
on
death
still reigns
no one
is righteous
no not
one
the most
faithful
obedient
man on
the earth
is drunk
and naked
in his tent.
it's clear
to me
what we
need
is not
simply
a new
start
what we
need
is a
new
covenant
a better
covenant
a covenant
that won't
just preserve
the world
a covenant
that will
purify
the world
a covenant
that won't
just
hit reset
a covenant
that will
redeem
we need
a covenant
that God
won't just
be patient
with our
sin
we need
a covenant
where God
will pay
for our
sin
in full
the prophets
spoke about
this covenant
we read
one passage
already
Jeremiah 31
says
this is the
covenant
that I will
make with the
house of Israel
after those
days
declares the
Lord
I will put
my law
within them
and I will
write it on
their hearts
I will be
their God
and they
shall be
my people
no longer
shall each
one teach
his neighbor
and each
his brother
saying know
the Lord
for they
shall all
know me
from the
least of
them to
the greatest
declares
the Lord
I will
forgive
their
iniquity
and I
will
remember
their
sin
no
more
again
in Ezekiel
36
he says
I will
take you
from the
nations
I will
gather
you
from all
the
countries
and bring
you
into
your
own
land
I
will
sprinkle
clean
water
on
you
and you
shall
be
clean
from all
your
uncleanness
from all
your idols
I will
cleanse
you
I will
give you
a new
heart
and a
new
spirit
I will
put
within
you
and I
will
remove
your
heart
of stone
from
your
flesh
and I
will
give
you
a
heart
of
flesh
I
will
put
my
spirit
within
you
and I
will
cause
you
to
walk
in
my
statutes
and be
careful
to
obey
all
my
rules
this is
the new
covenant
as we
look ahead
as Christ
Jesus
comes onto
the scene
and he
prepares to
go to
the cross
he looks
around
and he
says to
his
friends
this
cup
is the
new
covenant
in my
blood
for the
forgiveness
of sins
we're
just
saying
what
can
wash
away
my
sins
not
a
flood
nothing
but
the
blood
of
Jesus
what
can
crush
the
head
of
the
serpent
not
a
flood
nothing
but
the
life
and
the
death
and
the
resurrection
of
Jesus
what
can
bring
a
sinful
people
like
us
into
a
true
new
creation
where
we
won't
blow
it
the
second
we
hit
dry
land
nothing
but
the
blood
of
Jesus
here
in this
covenant
with
Noah
and
all
creation
God
here
sets
the
stage
to
preserve
the
earth
in
order
to
bring
about
full
and
final
redemption
by
sending
his
own
son
to
live
and
to
die
and
to
rise
in
the
place
of
sinners
so
that
any
who
come
to
him
in
faith
can
enter
in
to
this
new
covenant
and be
truly
cleansed
from
the
inside
out
if
we
want
a sign
of
God's
love
for
sinners
friend
we can
look
to
the
rainbow
but
an
even
greater
sign
is
found
at
the
cross
of
Christ
if
we
want
a
sign
of
God's
long
suffering
of
his
steadfast
love
of
his
patience
of
his
grace
of
his
kindness
we
can
look
up
to
the
rainbow
but
a
much
better
sign
is
seen
at the
cross
and
the
empty
tomb
we
can
look
up
at
the
rainbow
and
see
God's
wrath
averted
for a
time
we
can
look
to
the
cross
and
see
God's
wrath
averted
from
you
forever
church
to
be
to
be
a
new
creation
the
new
beginning
has
begun
in
you
and
we
look
forward
with
eager
expectation
to
a
true
new
beginning
we
look
forward
to
life
forever
with
God
and
the
new
heavens
and
the
new
earth
and
the
return
of
Christ
you
want
to
know
what's
going
to
be
different
there
here's
a
difference
for
you
there
will
be
no
possibility
of
sin
ruining
it
all
no
more
sin
no
more
shame
no
more
serpent
no
more
failure
no
more
guilt
no
more
death
no
more
conflict
no
more
wrath
no
more
tears
no
more
clouds
no
more
storms
no
more
trials
anymore
just
God
in
all
his
glory
forever
this
is
what
we
have
to
look
forward
to
for
all
those
who
are
in
Christ
because
of
the
new
covenant
in
his
blood
let's
pray
father
we
thank
you
God
for
this
new
and
better
covenant
that
is
so
undeserved
Lord
but
you
pour
out
graciously
on
us
all
by
your
grace
and
kindness
towards
us
in
Christ
we
thank
you
for
your
patience
with
sinners
like
us
and
we
look
forward
to
the
day
Lord
when
we
can
enjoy
you
in
full
freedom
free
from
sin
free
from
shame
free
from
death
free
from
the
enemy
Lord
we
thank
you
for
the
victory
that
Christ
has
over
all
of
this
by
his
victory
!
at
the
cross
and
the
empty
tomb
we
love
you
Lord
we
pray
this
in
Jesus