Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1945-07-05

INT DOOh VI 1eHeblS lHcluue, we are
sorry to note, the beginning of sin
in the fall of Adam. Soon we read
of the first murder. Cain Staying
his cody brother, Abel, because his
acceptance with God exposed the
wrong heart-attitude of Cain.
The godly line was renewed in
Seth, but before long sin again lifted
its ugly head. Now the wickedness
of man had become SO widespread
that God was driven to a drastic
judgment.
]. Judgment for the Wicked
(6:5-O.
The Lord sees the wickedness of
men--let us not forget that! At
times it seems as though the I'M
godly flourish in their sin and that
there is no judgment upon them.
God knows what goes on in the
world. He is long-suffering and mer-
ciful, but there is a boundary line
to His patience, and when that
limit is reached, there can be
nothing but judgment.
Ever imagination of the thoughts
of mans heart was evil continual
ly ". 81. One is reminded of Jere-
.niah 1873, and of such a contem-
porary estimate Of man as that of
DIR. Mackay, who said, "Psycholo-
gy has unveiled the dismal and sin
lister depths in human nature. Man
can no longer flee from reality into
the romantic refuge of his own
heart; for the human heart has be-
come house of horrors in whose
murky recesses man cannot erect
for his solace either a shrine or
citadel. Man is bad; he is sin
ner."
God did not change His mind
". g., but man by his sin moved
himself out of the circle of Gods
love over into the circle of His
judgment. God never changes, but
we change our relation to Him by
our actions. Such is the evident
meaning of this verse.
ii. Deliverance for the Upright c.:
l, A, 49,.
God remembered Noah, and he
found grace in the eyes Of the
Lord" Gen. $50 because he was "a
Just man" (6:9). At the Lords COM
mand, he prepared the ark for the
saving of himself and his house,
and after the Lord had "shut him
in" Gen. 7:l6), the great judg-
ment by water came upon the earth.
After $50 days (Gen. 7:24, the
Lord remembered Noah GID and
caused the earth to dry up once
again. The same Lord who shut him
in to keep him during the flood
brought him out after the flood c..
Is. l6), gave him great power O.:
l-4. assured him Of His protection
(9:5-D, and gave him the great
promise (9:8-16) of which the rain
bow became the token.
The God who will in no wise for
get the sin of the wicked will
never leave nor forsake those who
walk uprightly before Him. The
story of Noah should stimulate our
faith, causing us to obey and trust
God. His protecting hand is over
His children, and He can bring
them through the darkest days Of
tribulation.
/ III. Mercy in the Midst of Sin
8:20-22).
Noah builded an altar" for the
first impulse of his heart was to
give praise to God for His mighty
deliverance. His offering came up
to God as "a sweet savor," that is,
it was pleasing to God.
To come before God with accept
able worship man pust come
with clean hands. The question is
not whether he is brilliant, learned,
or Of high position. The one thing
that counts is obedience. When
such a man offers the worship of
his heart before God, it goes up to
him like sweet SAVIOR.
God knew mans heart ". 2D.
He had no illusions that even the
judgment of the flood would change
1t. Eagerly His love sought man.
obedient response, but He well knew
that the awful pestilence of sin
would continue until the very end
of the age.
So in spite Of that sin, and in the
very midst of it, God promised that
He would never again wipe out hu.
mainly as He did in the flood.
There would be individual judgment
and collective judgment on certain
groups, but never again the smiling
of every living thing. Thus, He sci
men free from the terror which
must have now been in their hearts
The beautiful rainbow in the clouc
became a token of Gods promise
and the visible assurance to al
flesh" that the judgment of the flooc
would not be repeated Never agair
would seed time and harvest, noI
any of the orderly processes o.
nature, fail throughout the whole
earth.
What a gracious God we have!
And what a pity that men presume
upon His goodness.