WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.919 I wonder how you value perspective. 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:05.679 Because perspective is a key thing. 00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:08.800 Perspective is a good thing to have a clear perspective. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:13.439 We all want to have a good perspective upon the realities of our lives. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:20.960 Because when you don't, when you have a misconception about something, you can look a bit silly if it's something minor. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:25.359 And as children, we all know what it's like to have misconceptions. 00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:32.240 We have all had moments where we thought certain things were true and then we found out those things weren't true. 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:34.640 And we believed these things. 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:43.280 And this week I did a bit of research into some things that people as children used to think were real and true. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:44.960 One was this. 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:50.240 I thought drinking and driving meant you couldn't drink anything, even water. 00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:51.200 Fair enough. 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:52.719 This is one of my favorites. 00:00:52.960 --> 00:01:00.479 When people were shot on TV, I thought that they were volunteers who wanted to die for the show. 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:08.319 I used to think that people in the TV could see me, and I refused to get changed in front of it. 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:22.000 When my mum told me she was an organ donor, I understood that to mean the government could come to our house at any time, kill my mum, and harvest her organs for any reason. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:24.560 I was horrified for months. 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:28.959 I thought all Asian people knew Kung Fu. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:32.560 I was afraid of Asians until I was 10 or so. 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:37.280 I thought that smokestacks were cloud-making machines. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:39.680 Kids are stupid. 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:41.200 But this is the reality. 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:47.280 We think we know things, we see something, and we think surely that's the way in which it works. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:51.680 And like children, we can often have misconceptions. 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:53.439 And why is that important for us? 00:01:53.599 --> 00:02:01.519 Because when we come to Genesis 6 and 7, this well-known story, we can move many kinds of misconceptions. 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:04.400 We can think we know it. 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:10.639 For many of us, we know the idea of Noah and the flood, and it's a part of our growing up. 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:20.560 Even if you didn't go in church or weren't growing up in church, you can think you feel the you know the basics of this story. 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:22.479 And yet that is the problem. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:29.120 It can be just a story, a story for children as they grow up. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:31.680 A nice little cute story. 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:42.400 Yet the reality is this is an actual event that happened within human history, and it isn't a story that you would want to tell your children. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:44.240 Because it's really horrific. 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:49.039 It is one of the most devastating points in human history. 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:52.319 It's not one of these nice stories. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:56.159 It is filled with death, sin, and evil. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:03:07.439 If we truly understand what's happening all those years ago, we wouldn't be rushing to tell our children these stories before bedtime because it would give them nightmares. 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:10.800 For us, we need to correct our misconceptions. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:21.599 And there are three things that I want to draw out through this narrative: the weight of human sin, the reality of God's judgment, and the beauty of his mercy. 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:23.039 The weight of human sin. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:29.680 For the past few weeks, we have been going through the opening chapters of Genesis, the beginning of all things. 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:35.439 And for the past number of weeks, we've been seeing the consequence that happens in Genesis 3. 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:42.639 Genesis 3, there is this event that is known as the fall, the point where people choose to go against God. 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:47.919 And it causes a fracture that splits through all of creation. 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:53.759 The fall brings such destruction and devastation to all that was good. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:59.439 But the reality is, sin itself, there is not an end to it. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:04.479 Humanity continues to grow in the rebellion to God. 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:07.280 This is what we're seeing in these opening chapters. 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:10.960 Their wickedness is going from strength to strength. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:16.319 God Himself reveals this as he looks down on his creation in this passage. 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:17.839 Look at verse 5. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:22.560 The Lord saw the wickedness of man was great on the earth. 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:25.519 There is no hiding the sinfulness of man. 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:27.519 It's so apparent. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:31.199 And the Lord God is the one who sees it all. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:38.560 The image of the Creator God gazing upon his creation, witnessing their utter rebellion to him. 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:43.439 You see, sin is doing what sin has always done. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:47.759 Sin deconstructs what is good and tarnishes it. 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:50.720 That's exactly what we're seeing through this passage. 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:54.000 Chapter 6 begins with this proclamation. 00:04:54.480 --> 00:05:01.439 Man began to multiply on the face of the land, and there is an echo back to the opening chapters of Genesis. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:05.199 This beautiful design for man to multiply. 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:11.360 God's desire for the earth to be filled with image bearers of him, living in relationship with him. 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:18.720 And yet here in Genesis 6, man has fallen so far from God, they are so deep in their sin. 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:29.519 Instead of multiplication being a sign of beauty, a sign of God's blessing, it is a sign of humans' rebellion, growth in their sin. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:34.480 As man multiplies, so does the sin of man. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:39.600 The tragedy of sin warping the very blessings of God. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:53.120 It's sin taking a beautiful design of multiplication, and instead of a picture of God's intended purpose, there is a picture of the destructive nature of sin itself. 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:57.360 Yet we can sit here and feel surely it's not that bad. 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:00.000 Surely it's not as bad as we think. 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:02.639 And sadly, we enjoy to do that. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:09.759 In our lives, we like to downplay the seriousness of human sin, the seriousness of our sin. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:13.519 But look down at how God describes the impact of sin. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:22.720 Verse 12 God saw the earth and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their ways on the earth. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:25.199 That's the result of sin. 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:32.959 It spreads like a plague to every inch of creation, destroying, killing, warping. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:37.680 You see, sin is not just isolated to humans here. 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:41.360 No, it's infecting all of creation. 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:50.639 As God casts his judgment, he casts it over all of creation, exposing the penetrating nature of sin itself. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:55.360 That there is not one part of creation that is not marred by sin. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:00.720 All humans, all animals, the very earth itself is corrupted by sin. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:10.560 Verse 7, he says, I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:14.480 Verse 13, Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:20.800 The Lord God, in his judgment of sin, is revealing the very nature of sin, infecting everything in creation. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:32.399 Yet, as people, we can so often see the brokenness, see the suffering and unjustice around us and feel and blame it on God as being unloving. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:36.959 We have this bent perspective on our world. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:42.079 Many people ask the question about the God of the Bible. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:49.279 They say the God of the Bible is clearly not loving because of the suffering in the world. 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:57.279 They label him the God of the Bible as cruel, as a God who is absent from his creation. 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:02.879 Do you see how big a misconception that is? 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:10.000 To view our world like that, to view the Lord God Almighty like that is evil. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:18.959 All suffering, all brokenness, all evil has a root cause, and that is sin. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:23.360 It is the rebellion against God. 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:27.839 That is humanity believing we know best. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:29.759 We know what is best. 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:39.039 And the reason people love to seek to blame God is the issue of for the issue of suffering is the same issue we see here. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:44.320 That these people are utterly blind to their sin. 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:52.720 They are not shameful, they are not feeling guilty of their sin, but instead they're reveling in their sin. 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:56.799 It is not a people feeling bad in how they're living. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:09:00.000 They are doing what they want and they do not care. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:06.240 Sin is being exposed in these chapters, but people are not the ones to expose it. 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:07.519 God is. 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:20.960 When people wonder about suffering, when people wonder about brokenness, about the world and how evil things can be, they don't want to look at themselves. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:30.240 When you wonder about brokenness in your life, when you wonder about the sin and the evil around you, you don't want to look at yourself. 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:33.679 We want to believe the lie that says, I am good. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:36.480 I am not a bad person. 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:46.080 If that's your default position, can I gently and lovingly say you don't know your own heart? 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:52.399 All sin is not down to you, but you have a part to play, just as I do. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:56.000 The brokenness and the evil in our world. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:10:01.840 The people here in Noah's Day are running towards sexual immorality and violence. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:03.120 Look at verse 2. 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:06.240 They took as their wives any they chose. 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:12.879 This may be subtle in the text, but it's revealing the continued deconstruction of God's beautiful design. 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:25.919 Just like Lamech in chapter 4 a few weeks back, they choose to construct marriage in their way, have they think, to meet their sexual desires in the way they want them met. 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:35.519 The idea of sexual freedom is not a new phenomenon, but rather it is as old as sin itself. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:40.559 Warping the good gift of marriage for self-gain. 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:43.440 It is utterly perverse. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:52.159 These two chapters, people are wallowing in every sort of sin, unashamed, unbothered by the rejection of God. 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:58.399 And it's not just sexual immorality, acts of violence are everywhere. 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:01.919 Verse 11 the earth is filled with violence. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:14.480 This passage, we're looking into the other depth of human sin, not just viewing it as this little insignificant thing, but rather infecting everything. 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:22.159 And we can think through how this would be shaping the world because sexual immorality would have been everywhere. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:24.879 Violence was just a normative. 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:27.840 Sin is not even recognized. 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:31.840 People's moral compasses are utterly bent. 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:39.360 It is shocking, but the reality is we don't have to look just back to Noah's day. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.720 If we look around us, we see this. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:52.960 Your life, my life, is devastated daily by the consequences of sin. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:12:02.559 When we consider this event, we can think that this is the pinnacle of human depravity and sin, but it is not the case. 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:05.679 The sin in this passage is the sin in our world today. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:08.799 They are both the same, and the root is the same. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:12.000 God says this and exposes this in verse 5. 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:17.840 Every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:21.440 The source of human sin has always been the same. 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:23.039 The human heart. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:29.440 The heart of our issue is sin, but our hearts, from the very first breath we take, are sinful. 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.840 We like to assume we're not bad. 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:43.279 But the reality is I know that I can stand before you and say the more I grow in age, the more I see the depth of my brokenness and my sin. 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:50.240 The more I feel that, the feel the weight of my brokenness, feel the weight of my sin. 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:53.039 And that's not because I think I'm growing in my sin. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:59.759 I believe by God's grace in my life that he is working in me and growing me in holiness. 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:09.440 But rather, he is exposing more and more the depth of my brokenness, the depth of my sin, and my utter need of him. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:20.399 The flood, though catastrophic, did not change the reality of the depravity of our hearts. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:39.919 Because when God promises never to flood the earth again, in Genesis 8.21, just a few chapters along, he says this I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:46.080 Even after this event, sin is still there. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:59.919 This week, as I've been preparing, as I've been thinking through this, it has felt heavy upon me, drilling into these chapters, trying to expose the depth of our sinful nature. 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:07.840 Because I long for us to actually realize this brokenness, realize this sin, realize where it comes from. 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:14.480 Because it is heartbreaking, the devastating effect sin has on our world today. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:21.440 We continue to reveal wickedness and utter corruption. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:26.559 Eight facts I want to share about our world today. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:33.360 The trafficking of women and children is the world's fastest growing crime. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:41.919 The sex trafficking industry pulls in an estimated$99 billion each year. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:47.360 Violence accounts for 1.4 million deaths each year. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:52.879 More than 50% of trafficking victims are sexually exploited. 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:57.759 The most common form of human trafficking is sexual exploitation. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:04.799 90% of deaths due to violence happen in low and middle-income countries. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:19.200 In 2017, an estimated one out of seven endangered runaways reported to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children were likely child sex trafficking victims. 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:27.840 There are an estimated 250,000 child soldiers in the world today. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:38.240 In at least 20 countries, about 40% of child soldiers are girls who are often used as sex slaves and taken as wives by male fighters. 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:41.279 This is our world. 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:44.960 And this should disgust us. 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:49.600 But this is a window into who we are as people. 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:56.159 This is the depth of our sin, and it is not just a problem in Noah's day. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:59.919 It is a problem here today for us. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:06.720 It continues to deconstruct and destroy God's creation, God's design. 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:10.639 And as Christians, we should respond. 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:15.039 We should know that there is only one way that we can respond to such things. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:18.399 Joining the Lord God in his grief. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:24.000 It is horrific, the depth of sin all around us. 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:25.840 And we're not immune. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:29.840 We feel the weight of sin upon our lives regularly. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:41.039 But the fact is, all sin is headed towards the reality of God's judgment, which should give us a healthy fear, but also a thankfulness that justice will reign. 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:46.559 For those 250,000 child soldiers, justice will reign. 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:55.360 The Lord God will see his righteous judgment carried out as he does in Noah's day. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:17:01.600 He will not just ignore or dismiss the utter corruption of human rebellion. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:05.680 Yet in the midst of it, there is something striking. 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:07.200 Look at verse 6. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:13.839 The Lord God regretted that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him to his heart. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:21.119 We need to be careful and understand that this is not the Lord God thinking, oh no, what have I done? 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.640 I've made a mistake. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:30.559 No, the Lord God does not make mistakes, but it is the Lord God revealing his heart of grief at the sin of humanity. 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:32.559 How far we have fallen. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:36.799 In the face of such evil and rejection, the Lord God will judge. 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:40.319 But it is not with joy and thankfulness. 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:44.799 He isn't just there thinking, oh, wait till I show them. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:50.720 For all the rejection, all the times in which they spout on my face and rejected my love and my care for them. 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:53.200 Let me show them what they have done. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:55.039 I can't wait to judge them. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:58.000 No, he judges with grief. 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:04.720 The Lord God sees his creation, looks at what he has made, all he has made. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:09.440 They continue to fall from him, and it brings him grief. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:16.160 God has never been a God who just delights in showing and bringing his judgment upon people. 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:18.000 That is not who he is. 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:23.519 He will judge, but he is cut to the heart at what he sees. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:40.960 2 Peter says, the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach for repentance. 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:50.799 How thankful should we be how the Lord God is so unlike us, so different to us. 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:57.839 Because the reality is I do not treat people how the Lord treats people who offend Him. 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:02.720 Sadly, there are many times in my life where my sinful nature is revealed. 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:04.799 One is found when I am cueing. 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.160 This is a very common thing. 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:08.000 Maybe you've tried it sometime. 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.839 You line up and it's simple. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.960 You cue. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:18.400 But there are some people, maybe in this room, not looking at people, who struggle with this concept of cues. 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:22.960 They think, I'll just come in and just skip everyone. 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:24.079 That's what they do. 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:35.359 And this can happen in a shop, it can happen in an airport, it can happen waiting for a ride at an amusement park, public toilets, or if you're American, restrooms, and they just dart in. 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:37.920 And then think, I can do this. 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:40.480 And how do I react react? 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:43.200 Oh no, they didn't. 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:46.160 How dare they do that to me? 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:48.079 How dare they treat me like that? 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:50.079 I hope they fall down that toilet. 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:53.119 I hope there's an ejection seat on their plane seat. 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.640 That's what I hope. 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:59.759 See, my natural reaction is so often to believe that I deserve better. 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:02.000 And I want them to pay. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:52.319 Yet, the Lord God who created everything, the one who delights in Genesis 1 and 2, as Father, Son, and Spirit brings everything into being, the Lord God who makes everything to be good, the one who places beauty and order, the one who creates humankind in their likeness and image, meeting their every need, not allowing Adam to be alone, but bringing him Eve, a fit helper, watching and delighting as the Father delights over Adam and Eve, joining in the beauty of marriage, sharing in beautiful intimacy without shame and brokenness, giving purpose and dominion, giving good food to eat, constructive work to pursue, setting everything in place for human flourishing and life. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:21:01.359 And he is the one that gazes now on his creation, seeing the rebellion and the sin of those he created. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:07.200 And he knows he has to exert his righteous judgment. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:15.519 But he is not delighting in it as we might delight when someone does something against us and mucks up. 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:17.279 But he is grieving it. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:23.440 For you and I, we should more and more long for a response to sin to be that of our Heavenly Father. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:28.720 We should look at our sin and the sin around us and feel utter grief. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:34.400 Grief at the evil and the depravity of the human heart, at our hearts. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:42.240 Grief at what will happen to so many people if they do not turn in faith and repentance. 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:49.359 Because if we seek to lessen the depth of sin, we are deceiving ourselves. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:52.319 The Lord God is the one who views all. 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:59.440 And he will have his judgment, but it will be with grief. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:04.720 The horror of judgment is balanced with the horror of human rebellion. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:10.079 It is never unfair for the Lord to judge. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:13.200 He is the rightful judge of his creation. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:21.839 Verse 13 says, I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:31.519 Here, as he casts his judgment over his creation, he shows who has ultimate power and authority. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:39.920 These chapters are full of sin and the effects of sin, and yet sin is not the determining factor. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.920 God himself is. 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:44.160 God determines what will happen. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:47.359 God declares his will for his creation. 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:52.400 Reality pointing to the fact that he is the one with authority. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:57.599 People declare their own independence all the time. 00:22:57.839 --> 00:23:00.079 We like to think we're in control. 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:02.480 And yet that is laughable. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:08.160 When you live your life thinking you are in control, you are so blind to the reality. 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:12.079 We have no clue what will happen once we leave this building. 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:13.119 No clue. 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:16.720 The Lord God holds all authority, all power. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:19.039 His judgment reveals this. 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:26.799 It reveals sin for what sin is and declares the consequences. 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:32.960 God declares the way in which He'll deal with this sin and we see the fulfillment of His promise. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:37.279 Look through these chapters at the hand of God. 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:39.839 If you want to trace with me, verse 5. 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:45.759 Verse 7, I will blot out man. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:50.160 Verse 13, I have determined to make an end to of all flesh. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:52.559 I will destroy them with the earth. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:55.440 Verse 17, I will bring a flood of waters. 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:59.119 Chapter 7, verse 4, I will send rain on the earth. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:04.240 Every living thing that I have made, I will blot out from the face of the ground. 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:05.279 Verse 20. 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:21.599 The waters prevailed above the mountains, on the earth, birds, livestock, beats, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind, everything on the dry land, in whose nostrils was the breath of life, died. 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:24.640 He blotted out every living thing. 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:29.759 The weight of human sin, met by the reality of God's judgment. 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:34.640 The reality that there is no escaping his righteous judgment. 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:37.920 He will not and cannot allow it. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:40.160 Sin will be punished. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:44.400 He is patient, but judgment is coming. 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:51.119 And you live here as we live here, we need to live with a clear perspective. 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:55.920 Not completely blind to what is coming. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:01.440 We should overwrite fear of the Lord and the consequences of sin. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:10.880 The God of the Bible, though he grieves to bring judgment, will not and cannot stand by and watch. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:13.279 He sees and he will act. 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:20.880 The image of the reality of this flood is just a glimpse of the terror of what awaits people in this world. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:25.279 In this city, right here, right now, today. 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:30.880 How many people are headed towards an eternal reality of God's judgment? 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:38.319 Just like the people in Noah's day, judgment will come and they will not be ready for it. 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:46.000 Matthew 24 says this, as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:55.839 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:26:02.319 And they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:07.119 That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:09.759 That should terrify us. 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:17.599 If you're not a believer here today, if you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, your life is but a moment. 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:23.759 The Lord God, your creator, will not accept your rejection of him. 00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:26.079 Your life is so precious. 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:30.000 It has been made in the image of the Creator, God. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:36.079 There is a day coming when the Lord will no longer withhold his judgment. 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:38.640 And the question is, where will you be? 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:41.599 Will you be inside or outside of the ark? 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:47.279 Will you be in relationship with God, trusting in his salvation? 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:50.480 Or will you reject it? 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:55.759 Christian here today, grieve for this city. 00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:58.880 Pray with vigor for this city. 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:10.240 Consider Christ weeping over Jerusalem, seeing their utter sin and rejection of him, longing for them to see him, to know their need of him. 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:21.440 Don't mess around when you're thinking about your work colleagues beside you who do not know Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior and are destined to a worse judgment than the flood itself. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:29.119 Those classmates, those teammates, those neighbors, those family members, those friends. 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:35.839 Because the reality is we do not need to face judgment. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.920 That is the beauty here. 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:40.640 Because the beauty of his mercy is clear. 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:44.240 Verse 8, but Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.920 These are the generations of Noah. 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:49.359 Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. 00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:56.880 Noah walked with God in the midst of people sinning and rebelling. 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.720 God sees Noah. 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:04.000 A man who finds favor in his eyes. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:14.319 God views his creation seeing the depth of human sin, yet he continues to show and display his faithfulness, his mercy and grace. 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:19.599 Because Noah is not better than other people around him. 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:21.839 He has the same issue. 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:25.839 He is not superior, but he has faith. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:41.200 Hebrews 11 records and speaks about Noah's faith by faith, being warned by God concerning the events as yet unseen, in reverent fear, constructed an ark for the saving of his household. 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:49.759 By this he condemned the world and became an heir of righteousness that comes by faith. 00:28:51.359 --> 00:29:00.000 As we have dwelt on the depth of human sin, the reality of God's judgment, we should long to know his mercy. 00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:03.519 A mercy so glorious and beautiful. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:11.039 As sin rages in his creation, deconstructing all he has created. 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:15.599 The Lord God continues to show his faithfulness. 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:19.599 His plans and purpose will win out. 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:23.039 There is no doubt what he will do. 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:26.240 Like Noah, we need to make a call. 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:31.839 We need to put our faith in the Lord or reject him. 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:47.519 As Noah spent time building and working and constructing the ark, obeying the Lord, there would have been moments of struggle, moments of doubt, and yet he remains trusting and having his faith in the Lord. 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:51.359 His utter dependence is in the mercy of the Lord. 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:56.000 Mercy so beautiful that it can take the weight of sin and death. 00:29:56.240 --> 00:30:00.880 Mercy so beautiful that it can take the weight of judgment. 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:05.359 This is the beauty of God's mercy toward us. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:16.400 From Adam to Seth, from Seth to Noah, the Lord God is going to display his faithfulness and mercy in the face of utter rebellion. 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:27.119 Noah clings to the promise of the Lord in verse 18: I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, both a command and an invitation. 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:39.359 The sweetness of this ringing in our ears that the Lord makes a way of salvation, a way to reveal the glory of his mercy to Noah. 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:52.480 As we gaze back here in 2019, this side of the cross, we need to know there is no more glorious view of God's mercy towards us than at the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:30:53.599 --> 00:31:12.640 Where the full weight of all human sin and rebellion was laid on the Son of God, Jesus Christ, where the full reality of God's righteous judgment was poured out upon his only Son. 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:20.319 So that by faith he might in Christ Jesus call many more to himself. 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:28.400 Displaying the depth, breadth, and length of his mercy toward us in Christ Jesus. 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:31.119 Don't mess around. 00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:33.200 Our lives are not long. 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:42.319 The reality is we should cling to the mercy in which Jesus Christ has offered his grace towards us. 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:49.599 Proclaim Him to others, those who are facing a judgment that is far worse. 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:52.000 Because there will be a day coming. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:56.559 There is a day coming when the Lord Jesus will return. 00:31:56.720 --> 00:32:00.400 And on that day there will be weeping and there will be rejoicing. 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:08.000 And our hearts should long to both rejoice but also long to see others rejoicing with us. 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:15.519 Long to see others knowing who Jesus is and what he has done for us, his mercy displayed. 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:20.000 Live with that view in mind.