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Sermons from the Book of Genesis |
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As you read the Bible you find that its heroes are faithfully depicted, whether it is their successes or their sins. God always paints human nature in its true colors. God exalts the successes of man and exposes the sins of man. It gives both the bright spots and dark blots of its characters. It compliments the successes and condemns the sins. This honesty of the Bible reminds us that there is no person that is not capable of making a mistake.
I think of a book entitled "Once Upon A Pew." In the book there is a particular chapter called “Out of the Mouths of Typewriters.” It is a chapter on mistakes found in Church newsletters. For example:
“Weight watchers will meet at 7:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.” “Pastor is on vacation. Massages can be given to the Church Secretary.” “Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and the deterioration of some older ones.” “The senior choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.” “Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.”
I wish that I could say that our mistakes could be limited to a few "typo's." But unfortunately, sometimes our mistakes are tar more serious.
For more than 3 chapters we have been reading about a man who walked with God for hundreds of years (Cp. 6:9). But in the final verses of his life, we see that what’s well, doesn't always end well. We read in 20-21, "And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent." We see Noah's sin and shame.
His sin was two-fold. First, there is intemperance. We see Noah getting drunk. Secondly, there is immorality. The word "uncovered" seems to suggest some act of immorality. The tense of the words seem to suggest that this was a deliberate choice. Here is a man who walked with God committing a terrible sin. Let me suggest 3 things about Noah’s behavior.
First, think of:
1. HOW STARTLING THE FALL OF NOAH
It is not unusual to hear about the fall the fall of a preacher. It is with deep sadness that I remember some friends that I have had in the ministry that fell into sin. I remember how it broke my heart when I heard that my pastor when I was a child had been exposed for a life of immorality. I was shocked when I was told. I did not know what to say. I was left feeling numb.
In much the same way, when you read about Noah's sins, it knocks you for loop. Noah blesses our hearts for several chapters and then breaks our heart when we come upon this passage. You are left speechless. You find yourself saying, “I would have believed it of anyone but Noah.” He is the last person you would have thought doing such a thing.
I think of Bobby Leach. Leach amazed the world by going over the Niagara Falls in barrel without suffering a scratch. But later, while walking down the street, he slipped on an orange peel and badly fractured his leg.
Noah walked with God before the flood when everything was perverted and fell after the flood when everything was purged. How startling his fall. Noah reminds us of a danger we all face. When I think of the fall of a Christian I think of:
A. The Delight It Brings to a Wicked Society
The prophet said to David in 2 Samuel 12:14, “Howbeit because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” When a believer falls into sin it always provides occasion for an unbelieving world to speak evil of Christians and Christianity. The world delights in hearing such news.
I think also of:
B. The Discouragement It Brings to a Weaker Brother
The fall of a believer not only delights the wicked but also discourages the weak. Young Christians are often devastated by the fall of someone they loved and respected. I have visited people that got out of Church because of someone that fell into sin such as a pastor, Sunday School teacher, etc. When the large tree falls in the forest, the little trees are often crushed by its fall.
How Startling the Fall of Noah! Furthermore, I think of:
2. HOW SUGGESTIVE THE FALL OF NOAH
Before we become judge and jury of Noah we should remind ourselves of what Paul said in Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, if any man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” The fall of a brother is not a matter to triumph in or talk about, but a matter to grieve over and be reminded that it could have just as easily been us.
What are the lessons we can gain from the fall of Noah? First:
A. We Must Be Conscious of the Potential of Sin
This is Noah. This is not a sinner but a saint. This is one of two men in the Bible in which it is said walked with God. Furthermore, this was no novice, but a man that had walked with God for years. There is no believer immune from sin. Anyone of us could become a Noah. If a man like Noah, who found grace in the eyes of God could fall, then any of us could fall. Like Noah, we could fall into immorality. We must never forget that in all of us there is the potential to sin. There is nothing that any believer has been guilty of doing that we don’t have the same potential of doing.
Secondly:
B. We Must Be Cautious of the Power of Sin
One must wonder where Noah went wrong. Did he think after the flood there was nothing to fear? The sin around him had been destroyed, but there was still the sinful nature within him. We can never be careless. We must guard our thoughts, feelings, emotions, and desires. They must be mastered or they will master us.
Paul knew that the flesh could be a wonderful slave but a terrible master. He never lost the fear of what could happen in his life if he did not guard his life. He wrote in I Corinthians 9:27, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway.”
Did Noah think he was too strong to fall? Did he momentarily forget God? After all these years, did he let down his guard? One can only speculate. But in any case, he fell into sin. We must ever live with the awareness of the potential that is in all of us to sin and the power of sin. Sin cannot be played with. It is like a fire that will eventually burn us.
Lastly, think of:
3. HOW SERIOUS THE FALL OF NOAH
A man who smelled like a brewery sat down beside a priest on a bus. The man’s tie was stained and askew; His face and collar were smeared with lipstick; and a half-empty bottle of booze was sticking out of his pocket. The man begin reading a newspaper and while the priest sat there in silence and pondered what to say. After a few minutes, the drunk turned to the priest and said, "Say, father, what causes arthritis?" Sensing an opportunity to make a point he replied, Mister, it's caused by loose living, drinking, running with loose women, and a total disregard of others.” “Well, I'll be," muttered the drunk, and went back to his paper. After the priest had thought a few minutes about what he had said, he nudged the man and apologized, "Mister, I shouldn’t have come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?" The man said, "I don’t have arthritis. I was just reading here in the paper that the pope does."
I can't say that sin causes arthritis, but I will say that it has its consequences. There is always a high cost to low living. I think of how:
A. It Affects Others
We read in verse 22, “And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.” Also we read in verse 25, “And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.” The sin of Noah affected his children. They would bear the scars of his sin the rest of their lives.
As one has correctly stated, no man is an island. We do not and cannot live our lives without affecting others. A spiritual life will have a positive influence but a sinful life will have a negative influence. One can think of churches that have been devastated by the fall of a pastor. One can think of children that have been crushed by the sin of a father or mother. Sin always affects others.
As well, we see that:
B. It Affects Ourselves
Notice verses 28-29, “And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.” There is 300 more years of Noah's life found in these 2 verses. But how empty they are and silent they are. I’m sure God forgave Noah, but his good name was blotted and his testimony blurred.
On September 11, 1985, Pete Rose hit his 4,192-career hit and broke Ty Cobb’s long-standing record for the most base hits. I well remember the game. I have never been a Peter Rose fan but he was undoubtedly one of the best that ever played the game. I remember the emotion of that moment. It was one of those special moments in baseball. I recall the packed out stadium standing and cheering and Rose breaking down on first base. But the glory of that moment was short lived. Not long after, he was banned from baseball for betting on the games. It may have cost him the hall of fame. But if he does, there will always be that blot on his name and record.
May we learn from Noah. He was a giant of the faith, but none-the-less he fell. If it could happen to Noah then it could happen to us. |