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July 9, 2006
“Chronology, Crisis, Corruption, Conversion, Circumspection, Character and Christ: How to Be Ready for the Last Week of Life!”
Genesis 7:1-16
What lessons can we learn from Noah’s last week? How can we be prepared for the judgment (the wrath of God) to come?
Eight words teach us how to escape such judgment. The first four are sorts of pitfalls, the last four means of escape:
I. Chronology – the study of time, we must learn to number our days, realizing time is not on our side – Psalm 90:12
1. In these first 16 verses of Genesis 7 we have several references to time
A. :4 “seven more days”
B. :6 “Noah was six hundred years old”
C. :10 “after seven days”
D. :4, :12 & :17 “forty days and forty nights”
2. We learn from these the limited nature of time – “His name is Time and he is coming to an end …” Phil Keaggy
Well He hasn't always been around
And He won't always be.
But He's on the move at this moment
Measuring life for you and me.
I fear we all submit to him
Existing anxiously,
And no one is able to turn him off
Except the Lord who holds the key.
When the Lord stops him, that'll be it,
Too late for apologies.
Too late to forgive your brother,
Too late to get on your knees.
When the Lord stops him, that'll be it,
Too late to help the needy
And worst of all it's too late to turn
You must face eternity.
His name is Time and he's coming to an end.
His name is Time where will you be my friend?
His name is Time and he's coming to an end.
His name is Time where will you be my friend?
Most people think he'll never stop
He'll go on perpetually,
But old man time is running out
And he'll cease eventually.
When the Lord stops him, that'll be it,
Too late for apologies.
Too late to forgive your brother,
Too late to get on your knees.
When the Lord stops him, that'll be it,
Too late to help the needy
And worst of all it's too late to turn
You must face eternity.
His name is Time and he's coming to an end.
His name is Time where will you be my friend?
His name is Time and he's coming to an end.
His name is Time where will you be my friend?
3. We must use time to fulfill its purposes – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
II. We must understand “chronology” (time) in relation to the rest of these “C” words. Let us consider it negatively in relation to crisis, catastrophe and corruption!
1. Lets define them:
Crisis - an unstable state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending
Catastrophe - a momentous tragic usually sudden event marked by effects ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin
Corruption - : impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle : DEPRAVITY
"Sin is the living worm, the lasting fire;
5. Corruption is spiritual, moral and physical – Matthew 6:19; Psalm 102:25-27; Hebrews 1:10-12; Ecclesiastes 12:1-8
III. Knowledge of the first four Cs: Chronology, Crisis, Catastrophe and Corruption should IMPRESS upon us the Great Necessity of the last four Cs – Conversion, Circumspection, Character and Christ
NKJ 2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3. Consider the Corruption of Noah’s day – Genesis 6:11-12
4. Corruption is a result of sin –
Hell seen would lose its heat, could sin expire.
Better sinless is hell, than to be where
Heaven is, and to be found a sinner there.
One sinless with infernals might do well,
But sin would make of heaven a very hell.
Look to thyself then, keep it out of door,
Lest it get in and never leave thee more.
"Fools make a mock at sin, will not believe
It carries such a dagger in its sleeve;
How can it be, say they, that such a thing,
So full of sweetness, err should wear a sting?
They know not that it is the very spell
Of sin, to make them laugh themselves to hell.
Look to thyself, then, deal with sin no more,
Lest He who saves, against thee shuts the door.
"— BUNYAN.
1. It is important to be converted, repent – Matthew 3:1-2; 4:17
2. It is important to be circumspect
A. Notice Noah’s constant and continued obedience to God’s commands – Genesis 7:5; 6:22
B. This circumspect obedience is needed NOW – Ephesians 5:15-20
3. Yet, even more important than being circumspect is having character! Heart character is the root from which circumspect behavior is the fruit –
A. Noah had character – Genesis 7:1
B. Noah found grace long before the flood – Genesis 6:8
C. Grace is found in Christ
D. The time of crisis or catastrophe is usually too late for building character or coming to Christ – Proverbs 1:20-33; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
