“On the very same day Noah and Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark— they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.” Genesis 7:13-16 NKJV
God never shuts the door without first being long-suffering and patient.
God never shuts the door without first being long-suffering and patient. In the days of Noah, God was patient for over 120 years. For over a century, God desired that the men and women would repent of their wicked ways and join Noah upon the Ark. Many forsook God “because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water” (1 Peter 3:20 ESV). He longed for His creation to turn to Him and forsake their ways. The pull of the world upon man’s heart, however, was too strong. They desired their iniquity, rather than God Almighty.
The Ark is a resemblance of what Christ did for us upon the Cross. The ability for the men and women to join Noah on the Ark was extremely simple. All they had to do was take a few steps to get on board. However, they thought Noah was a fool for believing in God and following Him. Likewise, it is the same for us and in witnessing. We tell others to recognize that God loves them and desires for them to repent of their sins and turn to Christ. We tell people they are not good in themselves and are in need of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. In return of doing this, the world mocks and scoffs. They think we are fools. Yet, rejecting the simplicity of the Cross is done by those who are foolish.
If man could recognize the severity of their sin and understand that they can do nothing apart from God - not even breathe without God’s permitting - they would quickly run to Christ.
If man could recognize the severity of their sin and understand that they can do nothing apart from God - not even breathe without God’s permitting - they would quickly run to Christ. For Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but through Him (John 14:6). Christ did it all. He paved the Way. He is the revealed Truth of God Himself. All we have to do is to believe He is Lord and Savior and repent of our sins.
Christ’s atoning sacrifice is universally offered, but it is not universally accepted. Therefore, it does not save everyone. For men are the ultimate reason why they end up in Hell.
It is extremely simple to understand that to be saved is found in what Christ did upon the Cross. We did nothing to earn our salvation. It has all been done by God and is offered freely to those who will accept. For Christ’s atoning sacrifice is universally offered, but it is not universally accepted. Therefore, it does not save everyone. For men are the ultimate reason why they end up in Hell. God initially sends men to Hell, but ultimately it is man who sends himself to Hell. For Hell is filled with the self-righteous, sin-loving, God-haters of all generations. Those who deny the simplicity of the Cross and the undeserved, free gift of salvation will be damned.
God initially sends men to Hell, but ultimately it is man who sends himself to Hell. For Hell is filled with the self-righteous, sin-loving, God-haters of all generations. Those who deny the simplicity of the Cross and the undeserved, free gift of salvation will be damned.
Therefore, God’s Word is final. When the door shuts, there is no return. There is no re-do to life. There is no second chance. When God shuts the door, the door is shut for good. Just as all but eight of mankind chose to join Noah in the Ark during the Flood, so there will be few that find Christ. Not few in number, but few in comparison to all of mankind. ““Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few”” (Matthew 7:13-14 ESV).
When man draws their last breath, how they viewed God will determine their destiny. Their acceptance or rejection of Christ and His atoning sacrifice will either save them or damn them.
Many do not know that what the Lord opens, they cannot close. What the Lord closes, they cannot open. When man draws their last breath, how they viewed God will determine their destiny. Their acceptance or rejection of Christ and His atoning sacrifice will either save them or damn them.
What Christ did upon the Cross is easy to understand. Our fleshly emotions and human intellects, however, attempt to excuse away what Christ has both done for us and declared.
What Christ did upon the Cross is easy to understand. Our fleshly emotions and human intellects, however, attempt to excuse away what Christ has both done for us and declared. For many seek to dismantle what He has done. People try to cover up God and His Word, in order that they might live for themselves. They long to indulge in the flesh and their wicked ways.
We have some of the worst sinners of all time come to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and repent of their sins. This has revealed time and time again that God does not desire to shut the door on anyone. He desires to save. Many, however, neither want to be saved, nor believe they are in need of being saved.
All who are truly born again have been saved from such things. We have some of the worst sinners of all time come to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and repent of their sins. This has revealed time and time again that God does not desire to shut the door on anyone. He desires to save. Many, however, neither want to be saved, nor believe they are in need of being saved.
God truly calls all, but only some choose Him. Therefore, He only chooses some. For God is not a respecter of persons, but He does respect the free will decision of man to either accept or reject Him.
God, therefore, knows when to give someone over to a reprobate mind. He knows when that person has made their final decision of rejecting God for the rest of their lives. God, in His Omniscience, knows the point when people will never choose Him, even if He visited them in person. Due to this, God hides His face from the wicked. He stores up His wrath for those who refuse to repent and turn from a lifestyle of sin.
That wrath will be exploited in its full manifestation come Judgment Day. Those bound to Hell because of their choosing to live in wickedness and sin will experience the extreme torment of God’s wrath. For vengeance is the Lord’s. He will repay what is due (Romans 17:19).
No man has to go to Hell, but most go. God has opened the door through Christ. He has made salvation so simple. All it takes is a humble heart and a submissive will.
O that all might hear the voice of God and heed to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. No man has to go to Hell, but most go. God has opened the door through Christ. He has made salvation so simple. The walk of Christianity can only be done by the Holy Spirit in us. The initial conversion, however, is easy to understand and to initially do. All it takes is a humble heart and a submissive will.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life”” (John 8:12 ESV). May we pray that all would see, enter into, and listen to the Light. For the Light is the Life of men. In Christ are all things. By Him all things are made.
“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”” (Joshua 24:15 ESV).
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, draw men's hearts to you. May they know the Truth, and may the Truth set them free. You are patient and long-suffering, Lord. Have mercy upon us, our nation, and the world. We ask that the Holy Spirit would move mightily and that all would turn from their sins and wicked ways. O God, may Your people hear your call and be saved. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Lance VanTine