Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-06-03


f0gS:: derful tribute to
H5e,>-szl the p a L "a c h
Noah. He obeyed
~4EYAoS.s|S God. This is the
K4(E& greatest est
H&F mony which can
be borne of any
soul. We who
read the complete
story OF Noah's life and see plainly
the reward of that obedience may be
quick TO exclaim: How foolish and
how fatal it would have been for him
to do otherwise than all that the
Lord commanded him" But If we
will try 10 forget for the time being
the glorious ark riding in safety on
the crest of the mighty flood, bear
ing its living freight above. the wa
terry graves of those who refused to
hear Gods voice or heed His warn
tngs, and stand with Noah when the
command of God first came to him,
We Will see that only implicit faith in
God could have given Noah the cour-
age 10 act. Is il not probable as
Noah saw the sun rising day after
day, in his strength and glory, as
his feet passed through his grain
laden fields, and bearing orchards, as
he heard the music of the birds, as
he beheld the busy rush of life all
about him. people marrying and be-
ing given in marriage. commercial
and Industrial enterprises command
ing ard occupying the skill and en-
crgy and brains of mankind; is it not
proba bic that Noah found it hard
to believe and obey God? In obey
ing God he could not hope to secure
the support or even Endorsement of
his leighbors and friends. Perhaps
he knew that at first il would mean
opposition in hi, own household.
RUT there were other things besides
u ridicule and opposition and perse-
cution which would make the obeying
of God no easy thing. He must give
up personal plans and ambitions. 1t
must not be supposed that, up to the
time the command came to Noah.
DE had been standing around idly
waiting for something to turn up.
The Lord always seeks out the busy
hands and brains to work for Him.
than has the employer whose sue
cess depends upon the industry of
the men he employs
And ], for one, believe that Noah
was one of the most industrious and
successful men of his time. He was
respected and looked up to in the
community. The godly life always
commands the respect of the wicked.
There is no doubt that tho times in
which Noah lived were distressingIy
bad, for the record preserved by God
declares that 'the wickcdness of
man was great in the Garth. and every
imagination of the thoughts of his
heart was only Evil continually"
But NoaL lived an upright life, and
his exceIlencics made him com
handing figure in the country i'm
which he lived. He was an important
and Influential citizen, and as such
was undoubtedly full of his own
plans and ambitions And so. when
the command of the Lord came to
him 10 turn from these things and
build the ark. il doubtless cost him
no little struggle TO obey.
He Christian has to meet the
same conditions to-day in yield
ing obedience to God. but the reward
Is as certain as that which came to
Noah. We see so clearly the glory
which issued from Noah's obedience
that we forget that, when Noah per-
formed the Lords command. the re
ward Of that obedience was still
ahead Of him, and unrealized. while
the skepticism and opposition all
about him strove to drive him from
his task, and make him unhappy and
rsbeIlIous under the command of the
Lord. But he obeyed God In the
face Of II all, and reaped a sure re-
ward OF that obedience. This * the
first thought which We wish to drive
home 20 the heart of the Christian.
yes. and 10 the unsaved soul. as we'll.
Ooeylrg God Pavcs n safe roadway TO
maj victory and glorious reward. To
The Christian ii leads TO all the riches
that are in the treasure house of God
1t leads TO the crown of life, the crown
of Righteousness, and the crown of
glory And to the unsaved souI II
leads from the land of death 70 ITO
and liberty in Christ Jesus. The ono
command to the unsavcd is: Rcpent
and believe on Jesus Christ. Obcdj
ence 20 this command reveals the re.
ward Of Eternal Life TO the soul fter
that obedience is rendered. The
soul that walks with Noah and does
all that God commands il will not
pass over an easy pathway but the !
glory Of the certain reward which
rests a. the other end tinges the horl. |
zou of the sky of life, and encour-
ages and leads the soul on. 1t is no I
Imaginary pot of gold at the end |
of the arching rainbow. That is what \
the world is chasing after Man Il |
obey1ng his own impulses and desires