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Noah’s Time and Ours, August 14
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved
with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he
condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is
by faith.
Hebrews 11:7
.
It was through Noah’s consistent faith and works combined that con-
demned the world. He not only preached the present truth appropriate for that
time, but he acted every sermon. Had he never lifted his voice in warning,
his works, his holy character among the corrupt and ungodly would have
been condemning sermons to the unbelieving and dissolute of that age. He
bore himself with a Christlike patience and meekness under the provoking
insults, taunts, and mockery. His voice was often heard in prayer to God for
His power and help that he might do all the commandments of God. This was
a condemning power to the unbelieving.
But the time comes when the last appeal of Noah is made to the guilty
race. He bids them yet once again heed the message of warning and find
refuge in the ark. He stretches out his hands in supplication with voice full
of sympathy. With quivering lip and tearful eye, he tells them his work is
done, but the loud, coarse mocking and scoffs and insults more determined
are heaped upon Noah. Enthusiast, fanatic, crazy, falls upon his ear. He bids
them all farewell, he and his family enter the ark, and God shut the door. That
door that shut Noah in, shut out the world. It was a shut door in Noah’s time.
And the Lord shut him in. Up to that time, God had opened a door whereby
the inhabitants of the old world might find refuge if they believed the message
sent to them from God. But that door was now shut and no man could open
it. Probation was ended.
The long forbearance of God had ceased, the figures in the books of God’s
reckoning had been accumulating, the cup of the unjust was full. Mercy then
ceased and justice took the sword of vengeance....
There was a shut door in Noah’s time. There was a shut door to the
unbelievers in the destruction of Sodom, but an open door to Lot. There
was a shut door to the inhabitants of Tyrus, a shut door to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem ...who disbelieved, but an open door to the humble, the believing,
those who obeyed God. Thus it will be at the end of time.—
Manuscript 17,
August 14, 1885
, “Shipboard Meditations.”
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