WEBVTT 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:02.660 Well folks, great to see you this afternoon. 00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:06.860 Let me encourage you to have Genesis 6 and chapter 7 open in front of you. 00:00:06.940 --> 00:00:10.080 We're going to be in the story of Noah over the next two weeks 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:12.620 because this is such a large section of Scripture. 00:00:12.700 --> 00:00:14.160 We're just going to do it over two Sundays. 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:17.699 And I really hope we'll see that everything we learn in Sunday school 00:00:17.699 --> 00:00:20.800 or heard in the songs that we sung when we were young 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:25.620 really doesn't get the tone right of what the chapter is telling us. 00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:29.420 We're going to see how good this God is and we're going to see as well His justice. 00:00:29.420 --> 00:00:33.500 So why don't we pray and then we'll get stuck into these chapters together. 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:37.600 The words of Psalm 34, 00:00:37.859 --> 00:00:40.120 O taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:00:41.260 --> 00:00:46.299 Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. 00:00:47.859 --> 00:00:52.579 And so Father, I pray that you would help us to taste and see today that you are good. 00:00:53.299 --> 00:00:55.859 For some of us here, that might just be for the first time. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:01.840 For some of us here, Lord, may we taste again just the sweetness and the greatness of who you are. 00:01:01.939 --> 00:01:04.379 Father, we ask that your Spirit would come, that He would help us 00:01:04.379 --> 00:01:06.959 and that He would lead us into all truth. 00:01:07.039 --> 00:01:10.060 We pray these things in Jesus' precious name. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:10.739 Amen. 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:13.980 Well, just as we get into these chapters today, 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:22.239 let me just tell you a couple of stories that I have either heard or read over the past couple of weeks. 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:27.579 So I'm going to give you three short stories and my question to you to think about is what connects the three of them. 00:01:27.839 --> 00:01:27.979 Okay. 00:01:28.399 --> 00:01:29.619 So here's the first one. 00:01:29.679 --> 00:01:32.019 I was traveling to church a couple of Sundays ago. 00:01:32.019 --> 00:01:37.099 And I don't know if you've ever listened to the radio at that time of day, 00:01:37.179 --> 00:01:41.060 but I listen to Five Live when I drive into church on a Sunday night, right? 00:01:41.060 --> 00:01:41.640 It's just on. 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:44.519 And normally it's the football phone-in. 00:01:44.819 --> 00:01:49.539 So they invite people to come on and discuss the talking points from the weekend. 00:01:49.539 --> 00:01:52.679 So there's a guy on the football phone-in when I turn the radio on, 00:01:52.739 --> 00:01:55.299 and he's absolutely livid, right? 00:01:55.340 --> 00:01:56.620 He's seething about something. 00:01:56.700 --> 00:01:58.000 And I'm listening a bit more. 00:01:58.460 --> 00:02:00.760 And it turns out this guy's a Tottenham Hotspur fan. 00:02:00.960 --> 00:02:01.100 Okay. 00:02:01.340 --> 00:02:01.800 Bless him. 00:02:01.939 --> 00:02:03.240 He's a Spurs fan. 00:02:03.900 --> 00:02:09.000 And he's raging about the fact that someone in the opposition team committed a ridiculous foul 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:13.040 in someone in the Spurs team, and he didn't get a red card. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:15.480 Now, if you're a football fan, you might know the tackle that I'm talking about. 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:16.379 Didn't get a red card. 00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:17.599 He's livid about this. 00:02:18.020 --> 00:02:19.560 And he's given it the classic lines. 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:22.860 He's saying, the referee needs to go to spec savers. 00:02:23.200 --> 00:02:25.340 What's happening to the beautiful game that we all love? 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:31.460 And then he said, what is the point in having VAR if we're still getting decisions wrong, right? 00:02:31.460 --> 00:02:32.640 He was livid at this. 00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:38.259 Then I turned on the, I think it was a BBC News article written by a lady the next day. 00:02:38.920 --> 00:02:42.520 And she was angry about Ryanair, right? 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:45.640 And she's angry about Ryanair because they have advertised themselves. 00:02:45.740 --> 00:02:47.560 I don't know if you've saw this over the last couple of weeks. 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:53.640 They advertised themselves as the lowest emission airline, right? 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:56.740 Knowing how well that goes down in today's climate. 00:02:58.219 --> 00:03:03.099 And all the while, they have not got any figures to back up that claim, right? 00:03:03.420 --> 00:03:04.539 And she's livid about this. 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:07.180 She said, why not get the watchdog in to investigate them? 00:03:07.219 --> 00:03:08.080 What's going on? 00:03:08.140 --> 00:03:09.640 Why don't we just boycott this company? 00:03:09.740 --> 00:03:10.939 She's raging at this. 00:03:10.939 --> 00:03:15.979 And the third story was a lady writing about the Me Too movement. 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:21.840 And she's talking about how the fact that she's particularly thinking about men who have abused their positions, 00:03:22.079 --> 00:03:24.740 their power to exploit vulnerable women. 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:29.419 And she's saying, we've got a culture now where women are too scared to come forward 00:03:29.419 --> 00:03:34.719 because they're scared as to what this might mean for their jobs, for their reputation, for their families. 00:03:35.179 --> 00:03:36.519 And therefore, they're saying nothing. 00:03:37.619 --> 00:03:38.239 And she's angry. 00:03:38.339 --> 00:03:43.439 She's saying, what kind of culture are we creating that people can't come forward and tell their life stories 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:45.399 about something wrong that's being done to them? 00:03:46.339 --> 00:03:47.139 Now, here's my question. 00:03:47.259 --> 00:03:48.979 What is it that connects the three people? 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:52.060 What do they want? 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:54.959 They want justice, don't they? 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:56.279 Right? 00:03:56.280 --> 00:04:00.099 On different levels, to do with different things, but they want justice. 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:06.240 And we have to say that's a longing inside every single human heart that we understand. 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:08.539 We intuitively, we get that. 00:04:08.620 --> 00:04:13.620 Anytime that we are wronged in any kind of way, we want justice. 00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:15.580 It's natural to us. 00:04:16.339 --> 00:04:20.259 In fact, I was hearing somebody tell me recently that our generation currently 00:04:20.259 --> 00:04:25.540 are probably the generation that's demanded justice, is the buzzword of our day, the most. 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:27.459 If that's right or wrong, I don't know. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:31.459 But it's an interesting observation, isn't it, about how we live our lives in this world. 00:04:31.559 --> 00:04:36.679 So just as we get into this topic today, let me just ask you a few little questions and one big question. 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:37.579 Okay? 00:04:39.039 --> 00:04:41.519 Friends, where does that desire for justice come from? 00:04:42.719 --> 00:04:43.559 Ever thought about that? 00:04:44.899 --> 00:04:48.819 That we instinctively know when something is right or wrong. 00:04:48.819 --> 00:04:52.519 How do you explain those kind of feelings that we have intuitively? 00:04:54.459 --> 00:04:58.599 And what do you do in times when, humanly speaking, you don't get justice? 00:04:59.579 --> 00:05:02.699 Or you know somebody, you know a family member, a friend who doesn't get justice, 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:04.879 who's wronged in the most horrific of ways. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:05.680 What do you say? 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:06.579 Where do you go? 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:10.779 What do you do with people when they get away with it? 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:14.759 The Jimmy Savills of this world, the Hethlers of this world, 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:20.000 who, for all intents and purposes, weren't made to face the punishment for what they did. 00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:23.120 Here's the big question then. 00:05:24.259 --> 00:05:26.919 Do you think there can ever be such a thing as perfect justice? 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:32.879 Come with me to Genesis chapter 6 and chapter 7. 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:38.340 We've been in this book of Genesis for a number of weeks now. 00:05:40.080 --> 00:05:46.540 And this opening section of the book has helped us get to grips with and meet the God who is there. 00:05:47.520 --> 00:05:48.080 He's there. 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:50.060 He's disclosed himself. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:50.900 He's revealed himself. 00:05:51.060 --> 00:05:51.860 This is who he is. 00:05:52.180 --> 00:05:55.860 And if you like, these opening chapters have just kind of thrown us back to the jigsaw puzzle. 00:05:55.860 --> 00:05:56.259 Right? 00:05:56.360 --> 00:06:01.139 We've been kind of building this thing up that we saw the piece that he is the all-powerful God, 00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:07.080 that he is the loving God, that he is the good God, that he is the gracious God, 00:06:07.819 --> 00:06:10.840 that he is the all-seeing God, that he is the all-knowing God. 00:06:10.920 --> 00:06:17.860 And today in chapter 6, here's what we see, that he is the perfectly just God. 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:20.660 He is the perfectly just God. 00:06:20.960 --> 00:06:24.460 And he sits as king over his creation. 00:06:25.860 --> 00:06:29.280 This is the picture we get in this, as we enter chapter 6 here. 00:06:29.500 --> 00:06:31.600 He sits as king over his creation. 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:36.139 And while nothing has changed or will ever change with this God, 00:06:37.020 --> 00:06:40.180 everything has changed with human beings. 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:41.960 Right? 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:43.100 Everything has changed with humanity. 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:46.480 That harmonious relationship that we were made to have, 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:49.060 and in the beginning did have with this God, 00:06:49.400 --> 00:06:51.920 broken because of our rebellion against him. 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:57.840 And we saw that the words in the opening chapters of Genesis were good, delightful, pleasing, 00:06:58.060 --> 00:06:58.960 and very good. 00:06:59.020 --> 00:07:01.240 And then all of a sudden we hit Genesis 3, 4, 5, 00:07:01.259 --> 00:07:04.759 and begin to get words like anger and murder and revenge. 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:11.039 And the picture is that human beings are sliding further and further into chaos. 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:16.159 Sliding, choosing to go further, further away from God. 00:07:17.159 --> 00:07:20.759 And so God looks out on the river of humanity in this chapter, 00:07:21.599 --> 00:07:23.639 and he sees two things. 00:07:23.899 --> 00:07:25.420 And these are two points for today, okay? 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:26.300 He sees two things. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:27.579 Here's the first thing that he sees. 00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:29.539 He sees a world heading downstream. 00:07:29.540 --> 00:07:33.780 So this all-knowing God looks at the human heart. 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:35.200 Right? 00:07:35.260 --> 00:07:35.860 And what does he see? 00:07:35.960 --> 00:07:36.439 Come with me. 00:07:36.520 --> 00:07:37.280 Verse 5. 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:43.020 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, 00:07:43.540 --> 00:07:51.000 and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 00:07:51.080 --> 00:07:53.480 So there is God's take on the human heart. 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:54.480 God's take on the human heart. 00:07:56.939 --> 00:07:57.420 Compromised. 00:07:58.300 --> 00:07:58.740 Tainted. 00:07:59.060 --> 00:08:00.040 Soaked in sin. 00:08:00.220 --> 00:08:00.580 Broken. 00:08:00.960 --> 00:08:03.439 And how is this wickedness expressing itself? 00:08:03.640 --> 00:08:03.740 Right? 00:08:03.840 --> 00:08:04.800 What's the... 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:06.319 How is this manifesting itself? 00:08:06.400 --> 00:08:06.840 Verse 11. 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:09.560 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and what was it? 00:08:09.620 --> 00:08:11.700 It was full of violence. 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:12.939 Violence. 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:13.180 Right? 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:14.259 See the Hebrew word there? 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:15.819 It implies more than just fisticuffs. 00:08:15.980 --> 00:08:16.180 Right? 00:08:16.819 --> 00:08:18.080 More than just brute force. 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:21.480 It's meant to encapsulate the effects of that violence. 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:23.960 And what it has on real people. 00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:26.080 Okay? 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:26.900 So abuse. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:28.680 Injustice. 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:29.980 Oppression. 00:08:30.780 --> 00:08:31.220 Cruelty. 00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:32.220 Exploitation. 00:08:32.440 --> 00:08:33.300 And so here's the point. 00:08:33.820 --> 00:08:36.420 Human beings are not only being disobedient to God. 00:08:37.820 --> 00:08:41.220 But stemming from that, they are being harsh and abusive to one another. 00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:43.259 This point in the story. 00:08:43.340 --> 00:08:47.680 And do you see how this is a million miles away from where we were a few chapters ago in the Garden of Eden? 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:51.599 And how does God feel about this? 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:52.779 And this is so key to see. 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:55.179 Let me encourage you to get your nose in the text in this one. 00:08:55.299 --> 00:08:55.379 Right? 00:08:55.479 --> 00:08:55.919 Verse 6. 00:08:55.979 --> 00:08:56.759 How does God feel? 00:08:57.620 --> 00:09:02.019 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth. 00:09:02.699 --> 00:09:06.419 And his heart was deeply troubled. 00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:13.599 So here's the author trying to communicate to us in a way that we will understand. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:20.360 That God is pinned to the very core of his being. 00:09:21.179 --> 00:09:27.279 When he sees how the human beings that he made brilliantly and wonderfully in his image. 00:09:27.979 --> 00:09:30.279 He sees what they are doing with their lives. 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:35.259 And so this God who is perfectly just, he won't. 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:40.639 Indeed, he can't stand idly by and watch. 00:09:40.699 --> 00:09:45.559 His very nature, who he is, implores him to judge. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:48.100 The holy God that we were singing about earlier. 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:49.259 The holy God. 00:09:49.579 --> 00:09:52.439 His holiness requires that he acts. 00:09:54.439 --> 00:09:55.459 And what is God going to do? 00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:56.419 Verse 17. 00:09:56.419 --> 00:10:07.539 He's going to judge the wickedness of the earth by bringing a devastating and a total flood. 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:08.919 Right? 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:09.699 Not immediately. 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:17.679 I think that's what the mention of 120 years at verse 3 is most likely the time gap before God does this. 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:19.860 But God is going to do it. 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:21.419 Right? 00:10:21.419 --> 00:10:25.779 So God in his kindness is giving human beings time to repent and turn to him. 00:10:26.419 --> 00:10:33.699 But make no mistake, says God, that I will bring this to pass as God executes his perfect justice. 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:39.039 Let me just pause there for a minute and do a little bit of apologetic work. 00:10:39.539 --> 00:10:39.599 Right? 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:40.679 I wonder what you think of this. 00:10:41.439 --> 00:10:42.279 I don't know. 00:10:42.299 --> 00:10:46.939 This is the first time you're coming to church today and you get this passage and you think, boy, I'm never coming back. 00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:48.779 What do you do with this stuff? 00:10:51.339 --> 00:10:55.419 Let me just say the fact that this God is this kind of God is good news. 00:10:56.419 --> 00:10:56.779 Right? 00:10:56.959 --> 00:11:00.439 Some of us here today will be thinking, why would you want to worship a God like this? 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:01.379 Fair question, yeah? 00:11:01.979 --> 00:11:04.079 Why would you want to worship a God like this? 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:07.060 And that's a great question to ask. 00:11:07.900 --> 00:11:12.660 Let me just say lovingly that I'm not going to do justice to it in two sentences, right? 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:15.620 But let me just challenge you with a thought. 00:11:16.020 --> 00:11:16.580 Be thinking. 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:19.220 And flip the question around. 00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:24.700 And say, why would you want to worship a God who doesn't judge? 00:11:26.040 --> 00:11:27.160 Who isn't like this? 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:29.459 And I don't know. 00:11:29.539 --> 00:11:31.980 My sister-in-law, she used to work for sport relief. 00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:33.799 You ever watch sport relief? 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:39.419 Remember, Friday nights in our house growing up, the one Friday night of the year that we look forward to every year was comic relief. 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:40.980 I used to love watching that. 00:11:42.059 --> 00:11:42.639 You ever watch it? 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:43.379 You know how it goes. 00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:45.159 They get celebrities. 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:48.439 Celebrities, they send them to different parts of the world. 00:11:48.719 --> 00:11:51.699 And some of them go to the townships in South Africa. 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:53.419 They go to the slums in India. 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:58.819 And all of a sudden, when they start understanding and come to grips with what is going on in the world, what do they do? 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:01.000 They just bawl their eyes out, right? 00:12:02.339 --> 00:12:03.139 Bawl their eyes out. 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:08.240 And they say to the camera, I just had no idea that this was going on in the world. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:14.199 I had no idea that this kind of stuff happened. 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:25.519 So often we're sheltered at times in our Western middle class suburbia that we just forget and we're ignorant as to what goes on in the world, right? 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:29.459 But exploitation, injustice, it is not just a world thing. 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:32.519 Friends, it is going on right here in our city at the minute. 00:12:32.959 --> 00:12:34.759 Right here in our lives, under our noses. 00:12:34.819 --> 00:12:42.120 I remember the first time we moved to the city centre, walking around town trying to get to know the place, looking down the steps just where we lived. 00:12:42.199 --> 00:12:44.480 And there's a place that said sauna, right? 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:54.319 And you speak to the locals, you get to know the place, and you realise that it's got nothing to do, nothing to do with a spa break. 00:12:55.719 --> 00:12:56.939 This is going on in our city. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.439 Exploited, what is going on in our city? 00:12:59.719 --> 00:13:06.259 And I remember speaking to somebody who said to me, you have got faith in God, and I've got faith in the goodness of humanity. 00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:12.659 Let me just say, if that's you today, let me just lovingly pose you a little challenge to do, right, this week. 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:19.460 Next time you go on holiday, right, you go away, five days, ten days, fourteen days, whatever you do, go away for that amount of time. 00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:21.879 Just leave the front door open. 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:23.779 Right? 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:25.299 Just leave the front door open. 00:13:25.299 --> 00:13:28.599 And let me know how you got on when you come back. 00:13:29.579 --> 00:13:29.759 Right? 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:37.899 And let me know, especially when you're on the phone to direct line, you're trying to claim for your contents insurance, and they say, how did the burglary happen? 00:13:37.959 --> 00:13:38.599 And you tell them. 00:13:39.479 --> 00:13:41.179 Come and tell me how they respond to you. 00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:45.719 Seems to me that insurance companies believe that this is true. 00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:47.000 Right? 00:13:47.079 --> 00:13:48.539 This is the world that we live in. 00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:51.240 And this is what God is saying about the human heart. 00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:54.819 And we have to say our experience tells us that this is true. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.659 This is true. 00:13:56.959 --> 00:14:02.120 And the wonderful news, why this is good news for any of us here today who have suffered this, 00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:05.419 who know people who have suffered injustice in life, 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:11.659 is that this God sees every deed, every thought, and it will be judged. 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:16.919 And God's judgment is not overly harsh, and it's not overly lenient. 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:18.539 It is perfect. 00:14:19.699 --> 00:14:20.559 It is perfect. 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:26.459 In other words, with this God, the punishment will always fit the crime. 00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:30.539 And that is why we were praying earlier, weren't we, for Christians in China. 00:14:31.019 --> 00:14:31.179 Right? 00:14:31.199 --> 00:14:36.579 We know what goes on in the world in these countries, the Christians, North Korea, Iraq, different places. 00:14:36.719 --> 00:14:36.779 Right? 00:14:36.819 --> 00:14:42.240 And this is why this will come as wonderful news to people who have been persecuted, suffered injustice. 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:44.839 The God who is the friend of the oppressed. 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:47.180 The God who is the enemy of the oppressor. 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:50.019 This is good news. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:52.780 But let me just also say that this is bad news. 00:14:54.660 --> 00:14:56.360 I remember a friend who told me a joke once. 00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:58.700 He said, what do you get for pudding at the karma restaurant? 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:01.000 And he said, you get your just desserts. 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:06.279 People love the idea of karma, right? 00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:07.779 We hear it battered around all the time. 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:09.740 What goes around comes around kind of thing. 00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.379 But here's the thing. 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:15.240 See if the karma manifesto was to deliver perfectly on its promises. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:18.500 Friends, you and I would be absolutely done for. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:24.019 I'm seeing a moment that this God isn't a karma kind of God. 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:25.120 That's not how he operates. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.399 Karma knows nothing of grace. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:33.419 But for now, do you see that we are all part of and we're culpable in this Genesis 6 world? 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:36.779 And we know the depths of our hearts. 00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:38.360 And we know this is true. 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:42.860 And we know the people that we have hurt by our sin in our lives. 00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:50.720 And so God looks out in Genesis 6 on the river of humanity and he sees a world that is heading downstream. 00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:55.300 A world that has rejected him, that wants nothing to do with him. 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:57.820 And that should, as I say, good news, bad news. 00:15:57.879 --> 00:16:04.419 But for many of us today, if we were still rejecting this God, if we're not trusting, as we'll see in a minute, Jesus as our king and our savior. 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:07.379 Friends, we need to see that we are heading downstream to destruction. 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:12.860 God sees a world heading downstream. 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:15.320 But here's what he also sees. 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:17.980 He sees a man swimming upstream. 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:21.279 He sees a salmon. 00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:22.480 Right? 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:23.000 What did he say? 00:16:23.059 --> 00:16:27.539 Remember the late John Stott used to talk about how it's only dead fish that go over the stream, go over the flow. 00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:28.759 Here is the salmon. 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:30.200 What is his name? 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:30.939 Do you see his name? 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:32.460 Here is Noah. 00:16:32.460 --> 00:16:32.940 Noah. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:37.560 First gets a mention at verse 29 of chapter 5. 00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:39.040 Here is Lamech's boy. 00:16:39.780 --> 00:16:39.900 Right? 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:42.379 Different Lamech to the guy we met in chapter 4. 00:16:43.040 --> 00:16:44.920 Here is another Lamech. 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:48.540 He's living his life in this Genesis 6 world. 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.060 Right? 00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:55.040 And see his prayer in the name he gives to his son. 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:56.440 We see what his prayer is. 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.740 We see what his longing is. 00:16:57.780 --> 00:16:58.360 Do you see it? 00:16:58.360 --> 00:17:02.840 He will comfort us in our labor and painful toil of our hands. 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:05.759 Caused by the ground the Lord has cursed. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:07.400 So do you see what Lamech's praying? 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:11.299 He's praying with all of his soul. 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:13.819 Lord, would you rescue us from this world? 00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:18.259 Would you send the one that you said you would send to rescue us from this world? 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.420 And do you know what? 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:21.039 Please may it be my boy. 00:17:22.120 --> 00:17:22.380 Right? 00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:28.160 When you consider the name Noah, it sounds very similar to the Hebrew word for rest. 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:29.519 Right? 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:32.000 You understand what this guy is praying for. 00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:33.240 You get his heart in this. 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:34.939 He's saying, Lord, give us rest. 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:36.639 May it come through my boy. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:39.839 And so when we meet this guy, verse 8, look at this. 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:45.259 Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:47.019 Right? 00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:49.039 So quite literally, Noah found grace. 00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:51.219 He found grace. 00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:55.579 But we can't just leave it there. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:55.839 Right? 00:17:56.339 --> 00:18:00.600 You can't help but notice how the author portrays Noah. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:01.960 Right? 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:02.519 Verse 9. 00:18:02.600 --> 00:18:03.360 Noah was a what? 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.259 A decent bloke? 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:05.920 No, he was a righteous man. 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:07.140 Right? 00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:13.660 So here is a guy whose life is different from the world, whose life is about humility and gentleness. 00:18:14.520 --> 00:18:17.980 And here is a man whose life is described as being righteous. 00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:23.880 Now, every time that word righteous is used in the Old Testament, it's referring to somebody that is a law keeper. 00:18:24.300 --> 00:18:27.580 Someone who is walking in the direction of God. 00:18:28.580 --> 00:18:29.980 And here's what this means. 00:18:30.100 --> 00:18:30.300 Right? 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.940 Get into this text. 00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:33.680 Try and get into this guy's life. 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:45.000 If you were around in this day and you were in this generation, right, and you're looking at Noah, you would have seen something very different to the people around about you. 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:45.740 Right? 00:18:45.919 --> 00:18:47.899 Someone living for a different purpose. 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:50.639 Someone walking in a different direction. 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:53.200 Someone dancing to a different beat. 00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:55.359 Someone striving towards a different goal. 00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:57.799 And notice where Noah played that one out. 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:00.039 Blameless, what? 00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:02.000 Among his generation. 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:04.919 He's not a holy hermit. 00:19:05.139 --> 00:19:05.299 Right? 00:19:05.379 --> 00:19:10.759 He's not retreated to a desert island and is trying to live a life of obedience out there. 00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:15.539 He's not meditating in a tree house like some kind of Yoda thinking blessed thoughts. 00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:16.279 Where is he? 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.740 He's among the people. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.240 Yeah? 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:23.700 And there's a wonderful little lesson there for us in secondary application, isn't there? 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:29.899 Friends, if we want to be distinctive for Christ in our generation, 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:32.120 we don't sell out. 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:34.460 We don't pull out. 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:36.259 But we stand out. 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:39.079 And as we stand out, we hold out. 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:40.400 The gospel. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:42.059 The good news. 00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:46.279 And how did Noah stand out? 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:47.160 It's a great question. 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.460 How did Noah stand out? 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.900 Would you see the description of him? 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:54.039 That he walked faithfully with God. 00:19:54.039 --> 00:20:00.220 Noah's difference in his life stemmed from the fact that he wasn't a decent person. 00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:00.500 Right? 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:02.059 Trying to make good decisions. 00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:08.420 It flows from the fact that this guy had a deep and meaningful relationship with the Lord. 00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:12.400 And it was him that he was living for. 00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:13.620 Right? 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:15.580 He knew God. 00:20:15.840 --> 00:20:17.019 Love that word there. 00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:17.240 Right? 00:20:17.320 --> 00:20:18.259 He walked. 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:21.060 He walked. 00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.560 Every day. 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.420 He walked. 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.440 Another day. 00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:25.300 Another day. 00:20:25.560 --> 00:20:26.279 Another day. 00:20:26.600 --> 00:20:27.300 Another day. 00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:28.320 Another day. 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.039 Another day. 00:20:29.100 --> 00:20:31.880 I'm walking towards God. 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:35.600 Long-term obedience in the same Godward direction. 00:20:35.760 --> 00:20:37.280 That is Noah's life. 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:41.120 And here's something really interesting I learned this week. 00:20:41.600 --> 00:20:41.740 Right? 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:44.780 And I'm indebted to a friend for pointing this out to me. 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:48.460 How many words does Noah speak in these chapters? 00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:52.200 Get your eyes on the text. 00:20:52.300 --> 00:20:52.840 Glance at it there. 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:55.000 How many words does Noah speak in these chapters? 00:20:58.260 --> 00:20:58.700 None. 00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:58.799 None. 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:02.460 Not a single word. 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.860 Is that interesting? 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:07.180 Not a single word does this man speak. 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:10.180 What a lesson for the first generation of readers. 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.539 And what a lesson for us today. 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:14.460 That walking with God is not primarily about your talk. 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:18.080 It is about your walk. 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:19.880 Every day. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:20.840 Every day. 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.700 Every day. 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:24.960 Walking in obedience to Yahweh. 00:21:25.080 --> 00:21:25.680 To the Lord. 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:27.960 Love that. 00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:28.620 Isn't that amazing? 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:30.799 See how this plays out in Noah's life? 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:32.740 God tells Noah, verse 17, to what? 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:37.360 I'm going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens. 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:39.819 Every creature that has the breath of life in it. 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:41.660 Everything on earth will perish. 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.059 Right? 00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:45.600 So God, by his grace, is telling Noah what is going to happen. 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:48.660 To pick that up in the text. 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.480 It's grace here. 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:49.880 Right? 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:50.799 Noah found grace. 00:21:51.120 --> 00:21:52.039 And what is he going to do? 00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:54.039 He's going to build an ark. 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.340 Right? 00:21:55.340 --> 00:21:57.500 And you get the dimensions of it there at verse 15. 00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:59.339 That's really important for us to see. 00:21:59.480 --> 00:21:59.740 Why? 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:02.440 Because this isn't a blow-up dinghy. 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.559 Okay? 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.119 It's not. 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:05.319 Right? 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:07.859 We've got a paddling pool in the back garden in the summer. 00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.059 Right? 00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:11.859 I've got one of those little motors that you put in and pump it up. 00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.059 Right? 00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:13.019 It's up in 10 minutes. 00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:13.799 I can get that going. 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:14.759 Right? 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:15.960 Not the ark. 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.500 Do you see? 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.420 This isn't going to take hours. 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.759 This isn't going to take days. 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:23.220 This isn't going to take weeks. 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:25.779 This is going to take a long time. 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:31.359 And if Noah is living his life among the generation of people, this generation, do you not think 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:34.400 people are looking at that every day and saying, what are you doing? 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:37.400 Why are you wasting your life? 00:22:38.360 --> 00:22:39.600 Who told you to do that? 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.600 God told you to do that. 00:22:40.600 --> 00:22:42.180 God said that this was going to happen. 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:47.340 Why don't you go on with something more constructive with your life? 00:22:47.580 --> 00:22:47.700 Right? 00:22:47.780 --> 00:22:48.780 Why don't you just join in? 00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.300 Not Noah. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.940 He just keeps on building. 00:22:53.300 --> 00:22:53.840 See it? 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:56.019 He just keeps on building. 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.759 In the text, look at this. 00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.700 The repeated phrase. 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:00.559 Verse 22. 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:01.420 Right? 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:04.500 Noah did all that the Lord commanded him. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:06.299 Verse 5. 00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:09.059 Noah did all that the Lord commanded him. 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:09.720 Follow with me. 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.299 Verse 9. 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:10.879 God. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:11.519 Sorry. 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:13.720 As God commanded Noah. 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.599 Verse 16. 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:16.799 As the Lord had commanded him. 00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:18.559 Noah kept on building. 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:21.480 Day after day after day after day. 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:21.900 Why? 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:21.980 Why? 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:26.740 The author to the Hebrews will pick this up. 00:23:27.800 --> 00:23:31.360 I talk about how, although Noah couldn't see the flood. 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:32.900 He couldn't see what God had said. 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:36.759 In reverent fear, he built the ark. 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.500 It was by faith. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:40.100 That's what Noah's walking in. 00:23:40.280 --> 00:23:40.720 Faith. 00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:41.340 Right? 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:46.740 Because he fully trusted that God would do exactly what he said he would do. 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:48.500 And that is the life of faith. 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:48.619 Faith. 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:51.539 Day after day after day after day. 00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:53.420 Walking in obedience to the Lord. 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.420 Trusting him. 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:56.180 Loving him. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:57.039 Knowing him. 00:23:58.559 --> 00:23:59.500 Life of faith. 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:02.240 And do you see, it's really important to see who is on the ark. 00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.319 Okay? 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:04.579 You might miss this in the text. 00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.440 It's not just Noah. 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:05.920 Do you see? 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.740 It's his family. 00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.359 It's food. 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:10.079 And it's two of every animal. 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:14.000 Now, it's important in the bigger picture of the Bible that we understand what's going on here. 00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:14.920 What is on the ark? 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:19.019 Do you see how it's almost like a starter kit for a new creation? 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:20.779 You see that? 00:24:21.820 --> 00:24:22.060 Right? 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:26.000 Everything that they will need for a new creation when they get off of it. 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.140 Right? 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:31.420 So important we see that because of where this points us, the trajectory. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:31.840 Okay? 00:24:32.080 --> 00:24:38.160 So not only are they going to be safe on the ark from the judgment that will come on the rest of the world as God deals with sin. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:44.180 God will save them and he will take them to a new creation. 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.700 As it were. 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:50.500 And verse 18, that is God's covenant promise to Noah. 00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:50.720 Right? 00:24:50.820 --> 00:24:52.680 So God has said, that is a promise. 00:24:52.820 --> 00:24:53.860 I am going to do it. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:59.740 And so important for the rest of the Bible story that we see both sides of that. 00:24:59.840 --> 00:25:01.759 That we see judgment and salvation. 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:03.000 That they go right together. 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:06.220 And that there is life in the ark. 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:08.120 There's life in the ark. 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:12.980 And so at the end of verse 16, do you see how the Lord shut him in? 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:16.960 The Lord has got him. 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.759 Got his family. 00:25:19.560 --> 00:25:20.040 Got the animal. 00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:20.360 Everything. 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.160 He's got them. 00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:22.800 He's not going to let them go. 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:28.080 And the flood happens exactly as God said it would. 00:25:29.080 --> 00:25:30.279 Exactly as he said it would. 00:25:31.060 --> 00:25:31.300 Right? 00:25:31.300 --> 00:25:37.800 And the description of it that you get from verses 17 to 24 is absolutely total. 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:40.040 Total. 00:25:41.040 --> 00:25:47.080 As this perfectly just God deals with sin. 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:56.220 And fast forward years later and we see Jesus picking up this real event in Matthew chapter 24. 00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:57.639 The verses that we read earlier. 00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.039 Right? 00:25:59.079 --> 00:26:08.419 And the context is that Jesus is talking about the day when he will return as God's ruling king to judge the world. 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:14.300 And when that happens, it will be just like in the days of Noah. 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:14.539 Right? 00:26:14.580 --> 00:26:15.420 People will be eating. 00:26:15.600 --> 00:26:16.360 People will be drinking. 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.220 People will be marrying. 00:26:17.340 --> 00:26:17.400 Right? 00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:19.019 You want to put that in a modern day context. 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:20.080 People are playing Xbox. 00:26:20.560 --> 00:26:21.620 They're on the school run. 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.580 They're on Instagram. 00:26:22.820 --> 00:26:24.120 They're watching Have I Get News For You. 00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:24.300 Right? 00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:25.519 They're just doing their thing. 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:30.740 But God's faithful people will be doing what? 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:33.399 They'll be walking by faith. 00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:36.240 Saying, I love you Lord. 00:26:36.619 --> 00:26:37.839 I trust you Lord. 00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:40.379 And I'm choosing to walk in obedience to you. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.039 Walking by faith. 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:49.599 And you see, the faith comes to us as we run to the one place where life and safety can be found. 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.119 Right? 00:26:50.139 --> 00:26:51.000 Not in the ark. 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:53.339 But where this points us. 00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:56.079 To the ark who is Christ. 00:26:57.519 --> 00:27:00.359 And that is where we are safe. 00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.379 Why are we safe there? 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:04.759 Because God's perfect judgment, friends, the one that we deserved. 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.460 The one that we deserve. 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.339 Was upon him. 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:16.359 Jesus took that judgment that we deserve on the cross. 00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:22.480 And as the grace of God reaches new heights towards a world in rebellion and a need of rescue. 00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:27.119 The cross where the love of God and the perfect justice of God. 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:28.159 Where they kiss. 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:28.859 Where they meet. 00:27:30.399 --> 00:27:32.619 And it's there and it's only there in Christ. 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:36.519 The true ark where we will find safety and life. 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:42.919 So friends, do you think there can ever be such a thing as perfect justice? 00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:47.299 Let me just tell you as we close. 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.779 I was thinking about this week. 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:51.019 Let me just tell you why I do. 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:55.059 Because it's important as Christians that we think through this stuff. 00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:56.119 Why do we believe that? 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:59.659 Why do we believe that Jesus said that's going to happen, that is going to happen? 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:02.199 Why would I stake my whole life on that being true? 00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:05.619 Well, I started off by giving you a few little questions and one big question. 00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:09.039 Let me just give you a few little answers and one big answer. 00:28:09.179 --> 00:28:09.299 Okay. 00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:10.179 Why I believe that. 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:13.599 You know, you live long enough in life. 00:28:13.679 --> 00:28:13.779 Right. 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:15.079 And I am almost 35. 00:28:15.239 --> 00:28:17.539 I mean nothing in the life experience scale. 00:28:17.719 --> 00:28:17.899 Right. 00:28:17.959 --> 00:28:19.419 Compared to some of you guys here today. 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:22.279 But you go on in life and you see it round about. 00:28:22.399 --> 00:28:23.219 You see injustice. 00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:24.259 Right. 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.519 You experience it in your own life. 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:26.899 You see it in the lives of others. 00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:30.759 And you think, how can that happen? 00:28:31.159 --> 00:28:32.599 Is anyone seeing that? 00:28:32.959 --> 00:28:33.119 Right. 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:34.539 You experience it in your own life. 00:28:34.679 --> 00:28:37.399 But the more you go on in life, and I definitely know this one is true. 00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:40.479 The more you see the depths of your own heart. 00:28:41.139 --> 00:28:43.339 And you know this is true in your own life. 00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:50.000 And so when I'm encountering the God of perfect justice, there's something logical about that in my mind. 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:51.079 That that makes sense. 00:28:51.959 --> 00:28:52.259 Right. 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.839 But here's the biggie. 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.299 Why do I believe this? 00:28:57.299 --> 00:29:00.299 It's because Jesus is alive. 00:29:02.139 --> 00:29:03.779 And that he conquered the grave. 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.980 And that he is risen. 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:11.639 Because see if he said this stuff about giving, the father giving all authority to him to judge the world. 00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:15.759 If he said all that stuff and he is, you can dig up his bones somewhere in Palestine. 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.079 Right. 00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:19.039 If he can do that, then isn't it worth believing this? 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:23.039 But the fact that he is risen, that changes everything. 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.859 Why do I believe this? 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:28.460 Because this is based on historical fact. 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:34.720 That God has exalted King Jesus to the place of all power and authority. 00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:39.139 And he said, if you want to check this out in your own time, Psalm 2, there is my king on my holy hill. 00:29:40.899 --> 00:29:42.359 We want to listen to what he's saying. 00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:47.279 He says one day, and we find this in Matthew 24 and 25. 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:48.359 He's talking about when he returns. 00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:52.379 And he's talking about the day when he will separate when he comes the sheep and the goats. 00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:54.119 We hear him talking about heaven and hell. 00:29:54.459 --> 00:29:58.899 And we hear him talking about, and remember this is the most loving individual who's ever walked this earth. 00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:03.839 Talking about how he will have the final word as God's king. 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:07.719 So the question is, what are we going to do? 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:10.439 How are we going to respond to this this morning? 00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:12.680 Let me just tell you, this is a close story I heard. 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:14.440 There's a British man on holiday in Australia. 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:17.759 And he's sitting on a beach with his Aussie mate. 00:30:17.820 --> 00:30:18.880 And he gets up, he's sweating. 00:30:19.100 --> 00:30:20.200 He's a big guy, right? 00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:21.059 He's sweating, he's hot. 00:30:21.100 --> 00:30:22.220 He's thinking, right, I'm going surfing. 00:30:22.860 --> 00:30:25.640 So he grabs a surfboard under his arm and he's heading out. 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:27.880 And his mate shouts in his Aussie accent, I won't do it. 00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:30.500 He just shouts out and he points at a sign. 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:33.980 And the sign on it is the one on the screen, right? 00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:35.940 Yellow sign, black fin on it. 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:37.140 It says, danger sharks. 00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:39.220 And the British guy says, come on, come on. 00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:40.240 Don't worry about it. 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:41.039 Let's just go in. 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.120 I really want to go swimming. 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:45.200 And his mate says back to him, it's up to you, right? 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:46.900 After a bit of back and forth, it's up to you. 00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:51.660 You've got to decide whether that sign is there to spoil your fun 00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:55.220 or whether that sign is there to save your life. 00:30:57.759 --> 00:31:00.500 And so friends, as we close, which is it for you today? 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:03.579 Which is it for you? 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:05.059 Let me pray. 00:31:09.819 --> 00:31:13.480 And so, Father, we thank you so much for your word. 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:18.180 Thank you, Father, that the privilege we have of having it in our own language, 00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:21.400 that we can read, that we can contemplate, that we can understand. 00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:25.339 And we pray, Father, that as we come to grips this morning with who you are, 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:29.400 as we sang earlier, that our God is a consuming fire, 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:33.460 a holy God, a perfectly just God. 00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:36.559 And I pray, Lord, that you would help us to respond like Noah did, 00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:40.740 as he understands, understood who you are, 00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:44.579 to respond in reverent fear 00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:49.480 and to place the whole weight of our lives by faith 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:52.920 in the person of your son, Jesus Christ. 00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:55.279 Lord, I pray, Father, for many of us here today, 00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.940 this might have stung a little bit, 00:31:57.100 --> 00:31:58.620 this might have brought back some memories. 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:03.099 And so, Lord, I pray that your spirit would do your work in our lives today, 00:32:03.159 --> 00:32:05.179 that he would bring healing where it's necessary, 00:32:05.639 --> 00:32:06.739 that he would bring conviction, 00:32:08.099 --> 00:32:10.859 and, Lord, that he would bring a right understanding of your truth. 00:32:11.699 --> 00:32:13.539 So, Father, thank you that you hear us, 00:32:13.639 --> 00:32:15.199 that we can call you our Father 00:32:15.199 --> 00:32:17.139 because of your son, Jesus. 00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:18.659 We pray in his perfect name. 00:32:18.919 --> 00:32:19.239 Amen.