Pastor Chris Noland

Where are all the ‘fundamentalist’?

pastorchrisnoland — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:57:50 +0000

I am not studied up on all the history of various movements in Christianity today. I have been called a ‘fundamentalist’ though I do not personally claim to be one. If a ‘fundamentalist’ is simply one who holds to the fundamentals of the faith and who takes a strong stance on the authority of scripture, then yes, I may be called a ‘fundamentalist’. But fundamentalism today is headed down a very dark road and may be at a crossroads. That is why I will tell people that I am ‘fundamental’ but not a ‘fundamentalist.’ It is interesting how ‘fundamentalist’ will take a strong stand for the truth and are very outspoken but when comes to standing up against one of their own who has clearly gone outside of God’s Word they are nowhere to be found. As a result, this gives fundamentalist a bad name and even brings harm to the cause of Christ. I am sure you have heard of the comments made in a sermon by a pastor in North Carolina concerning homosexuality. If you have not, here is part of the story from the website News for Christians: “A video showing a North Carolina pastor calling for gays and lesbians to be placed within an eclectic fence and fed until they die out has gone viral and is drawing criticism from Christian pastors who insist that it stands contradictory to the message of love Jesus preached…..The sermon in question was preached on May 13, following President Barack Obama’s historic announcement that he supports same-sex couples getting married. Worley told his congregation he was disappointed by Obama’s position and said the Bible is against homosexuality. He then stated, “I figured a way out, a way to get rid of all the lesbians and queers, but I couldn’t get it past the Congress.”Build a great big, large fence – 50 or 100 miles long – put all the lesbians in there. Fly over and drop some food. Do the same thing with the queers and the homosexuals, and have that fence electrified so they can’t get out. Feed them. And you know what? In a few years, they’ll die out. Do you know why? They can’t reproduce,” he continued, as shown in a video which has drawn more than 500,000 views on YouTube as of Wednesday morning. Now, we need to understand that homosexuality is sin. It is an abomination to God. We as Christians need to stand against the gay marriage movement in our nation. But, statements like this does not help our cause nor does he help the cause of Christ. In response to support of this pastor by some ‘fundamental’ preachers on facebook, I commented that this Pastor was right to preach against homosexuality but we all need to remember to preach the truth in love. I also mentioned how we need to simply preach the Bible and not go beyond what the Bible says as this Pastor in North Carolina did. As a result of my comment, I was surprised at the ridicule that came from these preachers. One even said that he looked up my sermons online and told me that I did not preach the Bible and that my interpretation of scripture was wrong. Instead of sticking to the Bible and preaching the truth, many ‘fundamentalist’ are rallying behind this man who made these very sickening comments. Not once in his sermon did he mention the need to share the Gospel, He just said we should let them die off. Is this what the Bible says? Are you to round up sinners and put them in a fence til they die? Is this what ‘fundamentalism’ is about? Now, I am not condemning those who claim to be a part of the ‘fundamentalist’ movement. But my encouragement to those who identify themselves as such is to take a stand for truth. So far, I have not heard of one ‘fundamentalist’ who has spoken out against the comments of this man. So far, they have rallied around him and defend him. What he said was wrong. Yes, homosexuality is sin, but sin is sin. Are we going to put all the men who have had lustful thoughts in a fence til they die too? God forbid. We are called to preach the Gospel, to give people the love of Jesus, including and especially to homosexuals. I would like to see some God-fearing, God-honoring, men of God in the ‘fundamentalist’ movement to publically speak out against such statements and stand for the truth. The cause of defending marriage, the right to life, the freedom of worship, (and the list goes on) is too great during these crucial hours in our nation for us to have the entire cause of Christ hindered by comments like what this pastor made. Instead, we need a call to repentance amongst God’s people. We need a revival in the church. Until we get right with God, then how will the nation ever get right. Repentance and Revial in the church should be our focus not attacking lost people who do not know anything other than sin because that have yet to be freed from sin! So, where are you? Are there any ‘fundamentalist’ that will speak out against language like what we heard from this pastor in North Carolina. Are there any ‘fundamentalist’ who will stand for the Bible, and Truth, and Love?

Things every ministry leader should know – Part 4

pastorchrisnoland — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:02:23 +0000

The best ministry ideas come from within the congregation. One of this biggest mistakes that pastors make is when they have a ‘my way or the highway’ attitude. No where in the Bible do we find that a pastor is to be a dictator. Yes, the pastor is the ‘overseer’ of the church. He is the one who is responsible for the overall spiritual condition and management of the church. But, the pastor is not to ’rule over’ the people. The pastor is to be a servant-leader. Sometimes pastors think that because they have been ‘called’ and because they have a certain degree then they know better than everybody else. If truth were told, most of the time, the pastor does know best. Pastors will come into a church with certain personal expectations and agendas without any consideration of who the people are and where they come from. This is why pastors must listen to what their people say. They must build relationships and learn to adapt to the culture of the particular church in which they pastor. One thing that I have learned as a pastor is that I cannot change people. Only God can bring true change. I cannot force my way of thinking on the people that I pastor. Instead as my learn their ways and thoughts and be where they are. Just because I am the pastor, it does not mean that I know what is best for the church. As a matter of fact, the people in the church have the best ideas. Why is this? Well, the people in the church live and work in the community. Most likely, they have been in the area much longer than the pastor. They grew up in the church. If anyone knows the best way to minister to the community it is the people in the church. I have also learned as a pastor that those things that come from me does not seem to be as succesful as it is when it comes from someone else. When the people of the church get a hold of vision and they act upon it, it has a much greater chance of being accomplished than if it is just the pastor’s vision. Yes, the pastor is a factor. He must be the one to drive the vision and push the congregation to act and to serve. But the ideas for the ministry must come from the people. This is why I believe every pastor and ministry leader should give their people the opportunity to share their personal ideas and visions. At Spruce Head, we have a vision meeting once a year where the people are given the opportunity to share their personal ideas for ministry. When the people are involved in casting the vision then greater things can be accomplished for the glory of God! Ministry leaders, you are not the expert. It is not all about you. Listen to the people you serve. Pursue the ideas for ministry that they have. When you do, you will gain a greater respect, and you will bring glory to God as you serve as a servant-leader and not as dictator.

Things every ministry leader should know – Part 3

pastorchrisnoland — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:54:59 +0000

The week is more important than the weekend. This may seem a little odd, but it is true. Yes, Sunday is our day of worship. It is a holy day and is very important. Church attendance is a must for continual Christian growth. But, we need more than just Sunday. When we come to church on Sunday we come for several reasons wrapped up in one. We come so that we may fellowship with other believers. We need that time to spend together for encouragement and strength. We also come so we may worship and pray together. There is something special about God’s people gathering together to pray and to worship. We also come so that we may learn God’s Word to be equipped for ministry. All of these things are vitally important to the life of every believer. However, for the most part, we are in church only one day a week. There are still six other days in which we live and work. It is during the week that we face the day-to-day struggles of life. It is during the week when we are most tempted to sin. It is during the week when our faith is put to the test. It is during the week when people are real. This is why the week is more important than the weekend. The best ministry opportunities we have is not in the pulpit or in the Sunday School class, it is through our one on one encounters with people throughout the week. I have found this to be true in my own ministry, The people who I have the most influence on are those that I see during the course of the week and not just on Sunday. It, of course, begins in my home where I have a responsibility to be the spiritual leader of my home. I have also found that those people who I stay in contact with during the week tend to be the most faithful churchgoers. Those who normally do not come to church, I see them coming more often as they get to know me during the week. There are also those that I minister to that have yet to come to church, yet they consider me as their ‘pastor’ and have regular communication with them. In out little village, the social center is the post office. The busiest part of the day at the post office tends to be about mid-morning and especially Saturday’s. So, I purposely go to the post office during those times in order that I may interact with the people of our community. Most of those people do not come to church, but, I believe that often times I have a greater influence on their lives than on those that I see at church each Sunday. Many times the people of our community will ask me to pray for them. Some, at times, have questions concerning spiritual things that opens up the door for me to present the Gospel to them, The point is, we have a greater chance of winning people to Christ throughout our daily lives during the week than we do at church on Sunday. The time that God’s people need the most encouragement is not on Sunday’s when they are in a ‘spiritual mood’, but during the week when they are facing real life trials and circumstances. As ministry leaders we need to understand that our ministry is not just at scheduled times on Sundays and Wednesdays, but it extends to every day of the week, 24/7. This is why we must constantly be aware of those around us and prayerfully look for those opportunities to witness and encourage. So, when it comes to ministry, Sunday is important, but perhaps not as important as every other day where real ministry takes place.

Things every ministry leader should know – Part 2

pastorchrisnoland — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:23:49 +0000

Jesus commanded us to make disciples, not converts. In talking with other pastors and ministry leaders, the one thing I hear the most of is the comments that the area of the church that lacks the most is the area of discipleship. Often times we have a ‘dunk them and drop them’ philosophy. We see people saved and we have them baptized and then that is all there is to it. Many times in my ministry I have seen people trust Christ as Savior and then they never grow and they never get involved in the church. Many churches have a revolving backdoor, we lose people as quickly as we gain people. How do we keep this from happening? How do we see people saved and see them stay faithful? How do we keep people in the church? The answer is simple: Discipleship. I am afraid that many pastors think their job is to simply preach on Sunday’s. Pastors tend to think that the Sunday sermon is the most important part of the church and that it is in the sermon that disciples are made. Now, I am not diminishing the importance of good preaching, however, preaching is only one tool. A church that is centered around the pastor’s sermons is a church filled with ‘fans’ of the pastor, and not disciples of Christ. That is why I believe that every church must have an ongoing discipleship program. This can be accomplished through ministries that most churches already have: Sunday School, youth groups, etc. The church where I pastor, Spruce Head Community Church, is not a perfect church by any means. We also have a revolving backdoor, though we are making strides to nail it shut. Though we are not perfect, we do make a huge effort in the area of discipleship. At Spruce Head we are continuing to develop a discipleship mentorship ministry. Whenever someone trust Christ as Savior we hook them up with another believer who will be their mentor and meet with them on a regular basis for one on one discipleship. Currently, I have the privilege of meeting with two individuals at least once a week. I also teach our people that every Christian should have someone that they are discipling and someone who is discipling them. The scripture plainly teaches that we are to help one another in our spiritual growth and we are to hold each other accountable. You see, the church is not a place where you go to once a week to watch a show. The church is a community of local believers who are engaged in each others lives through true, intentional, Biblical discipleship. As disciples are being made you develop strong, mature believers in Christ, which in turn, produces strong families and a strong church. We can preach the Gospel all we want to, we can even see people saved, but if we do not intentionally engage in one on one, personal discipleship the church will never grow. Discipleship must be preached and practiced in every local church. The way I look at it is that if the church is not engaged in discipleship, then it is not a real church.

Things every ministry leader should know

pastorchrisnoland — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:56:33 +0000

I came across an article by Pastor JD Greer. He is the pastor of the Summit Church in North Carolina, which is one of the fastest growing churches in America. Now, as with everything, you must take it with a grain of salt, but the points he makes is very interesting and on target. He talks about the 35 ‘plumblines’ of his ministry. I think it is worth taking a look at for all ministry leaders and church members (those in bold are things that I would emphasize and may write about in more detail in future posts):

JD GREER: People ask me what I wish I’d known when I started pastoring. Here are 35 different things. At our church we call them plumblines. Our plumblines serve as guides for decision-making.

1.The gospel is not just the diving board, it’s the pool. Christians grow not by going beyond the gospel, but deeper into the gospel.

2.People are the mission.
3.Jesus commanded us to make disciples, not converts.

4.Discipleship happens in community.

5.God’s strategy for completing the Great Commission is planting churches in strategic cities.

6.The church is God’s demonstration community.

7.The church is God’s plan A.

8.Belief unlocks the power for the mission of God.

9.The church is not an audience; it is an army.

10.The week is more important than the weekend.

11.The best ministry ideas are in the congregation.

12.The Great Commission is completed through multiplication, not addition.

13. Churches should be evaluated by sending capacity, not just seating capacity.

14.Stay where you are; serve where you live; let’s be the church in that community (a value we promote in our multi-site strategy).

15.We multiply congregations, not preaching points (another value for multi-site).

16.Each small group should function like a small congregation.

17.People come because of quality and options; they stay because of personalization.

18.Those who serve are just as important as those you serve.

19.Live sufficiently, give extravagantly.

20.Generosity is contagious, and so is stinginess.

21.The sermon starts in the parking lot.

22.In light of global lostness, excellence must be balanced by “good enough”.

23.Word of mouth is the best advertisement.

24.Just because “we can” doesn’t mean “we should”.

25.Humility is shown by openness to the ideas of others.

26.Believe the best about others.

27.Move with the movers.

28.Nod to fashion; don’t embrace (especially as you age).

29.Preach the announcements (announcements are – or ought to be – how our people apply the mission).

30.Love is the most essential element of leadership.

31.Pushing out leaders creates more leaders.

32.You replicate what you celebrate.

33.It is easier to get 1 volunteer out of 3 than 3000: Make people feel like you are talking to them personally.

34.One size rarely fits all.

35.When I’m sick of saying it, the staff has just heard it. When they’re sick of hearing it, the church has just become aware of it.

Very good points by JD Greer. Check back soon as will elaborate on the points that I personally would emphasize.

The evil of racism

pastorchrisnoland — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:56:20 +0000

I grew up in the south but yet I also grew up in a very good Christian home where I was taught that we are to accept and love all people no matter what the color of their skin. I was taught that we are to love all people even those who are ‘different’ than me. Growing up, we were all taught that little song: “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.” As lovely as this song may be, it is technically wrong. You see, there is no red and yellow, black and white, we are human. We are a part of the human ‘kind’. Instead of teaching our children that we should love those who are ‘different’, we should be teaching them that people are not ‘different’, we are all human and we should simply love people. We have been taught that there are different ‘races’ of people. In a very sincere way, our Christian parents have taught us that we are to love all ‘races.’ However, we need to understand that this is totally unbiblical. You see, the Bible does not teach that there are different ‘races’ of people. A clear understanding of the first eleven chapters of Genesis will reveal that we are all one blood, one people, and one kind.
The idea that there are different ‘races’ or ‘classifications’ of humans and the resulting ideas of racism comes from a secular world-view based on the religion of evolution. This is where we find the roots of racism. In the mid-19th century ‘racism’ became very popular. There was a growing idea that there are superior races of people. This seemed to coincide with some of the most blatant attacks on the Bible by men such as Thomas Huxley and Charles Darwin. During this time, the Old Testament was looked at as a myth and the attack against God’s Word began with an attack on the very beginning, creation. The views of these men inspired other men who made the first part of the 20th century the most bloodiest in all human history. Men such as Stalin and Hitler were responsible for the deaths of millions of people. Their racist agendas came from the influence of Darwinism. Charles Darwin wrote these words in his book, the descent of man, “I would rather be descended from a monkey than from a savage.” Darwin often used the word ‘savage’ to describe American Indians, pygmies, blacks, and almost every ethnic group that appeared different than his own. As Darwinism spread, people began to ask, ‘who is human and who is not?’ It was believed that blacks evolved from the stronger but less intelligent gorillas and the orientals evolved from the orangutan and the whites evolved from the most intelligent of all the primates, the chimpanzees. As these ideas were accepted, man began to justify racism. It must be understood here that once people abandon the authority of God’s Word, there is no foundation for morality and justice in the world. We are seeing this very thing continue in our day. Even in the church, we have seen an abandonment of the authority of God’s Word. Instead of looking to God’s Word as the final authority, we have looked to science and man’s philosophies. As a result, a tolerance for sin has crept into the doors of the church. The further away we get from the truth of God’s Word the more we drive people toward lawlessness and even racism. This is why we must have a high view of scripture and take God’s Word for what it says. When we begin to question what God says in His Word and when we begin to compromise on His Word, it opens the door for an influx of sin in the church and in society. When we look to human reason instead of God’s Word we begin to justify sins such as homosexuality, abortion, euthanasia, and racism. Without the absolute authority of God’s Word, we can find a way to justify anything. That is why I believe that the root cause of racism is the abandonment and the compromise of God’s Word.
As a result of evolutionary ideas being indoctrinated in society over the years, many people have come to believe the lies of racism. There have been several so-called ‘Christian’ organizations that have promoted these lies. In addition to various ‘Christian’ organizations we also have clubs and ‘secret societies’ such as the masons who also promote the lies of racism. There are several lies that lays the foundation for racism, these lies must be understood as lies from Satan himself in an effort to undermine the authority of God’s Word. The first lie of racism is that man evolved from a lower life form to a higher life form. This is one of the root causes for racism in our society. Evolutionist teach that man evolved from something lesser into something greater. Though most evolutionist today would not admit it, the philosophy of evolution clearly teaches that some ‘races’ of humans have not evolved as great as others. This way of thinking is what fueled men such as Hitler to believe that there was a superior race. Believing this lie resulted in the killing of thousands over the years in the name of ‘ethnic cleansing.’ Early evolutionist and racist ideas resulted in the horrific trade of the Aborigines people. It was believed that they were the ‘missing link’ and they were slaughtered like animals and used for so-called ‘scientific’ research. It must be understood that man was created in the image of God and we did not come from a lower form of life, we were formed by the very hands of God. Another lie of racism is that the Bible justifies the superiority of one ‘race’ over another. Racism crept into the doors of the church over the years because the church began to adopt the philosophies of men rather than standing true on the authority of God’s Word. As a result of questioning God’s Word and misinterpretation of God’s Word, it has been taught that the Bible teaches that certain races are superior. The unfortunate challenge before us is that many have used the Bible to justify the slavery of African Americans. At the time America was born this view was being established in the church based on the following false arguments: 1. Abraham the ‘father of faith’ and all the patriarchs had slaves without God’s disapproval. 2. Canaan, Ham’s son, was made a slave to his brothers. 3. The Ten Commandments mention slavery twice, showing God’s implicit acceptance of it. 4. Slavery was widespread throughout the Roman world, and yet Jesus never spoke against it. 5. The apostle Paul specifically commanded slaves to obey their masters. 6. Paul returned a runaway slave, Philemon, to his master. This type of thinking is the foundation for ‘white superiority’. What needs to be understood, however, is that the Bible did acknowledge the slavery of Biblical times and it regulated its practice. However, a clear understanding of scripture shows that slavery was not based on skin color. For example, the children of Israel became slaves in Egypt not because of their skin color but because they were growing in number. Yet, in the early days of America the debate over slavery split entire denominations. Unfortunately, many of the more evangelical/fundamental groups supported race-based slavery. The issue of slavery is what resulted in the formation of two groups of Baptist in 1845: the Southern Baptist, which supported race-based slavery and the American Baptist, who did not support slavery. These issues resulted in fractured relationships between blacks and whites in the church to the point that blacks were not permitted to pray in the presence of whites. As a result the historic African Methodist Episcopal Church was formed. I think it behooves us to look at our history before we make such an emphasis on what ‘group’ we are a part of or what we label ourselves as. Racist extremist groups also use the Bible to justify their racism, though their interpretation is faulty just like Darwin misinterpreted science in order to promote the religion of evolution. One example is the Ku Klux Klan. Did you know that the KKK is a U.S. Supreme court recognized and protected Christian organization that received a charter from congress because of their moral and good Christian behavior? Their doctrinal statement is very similar to many fundamental Bible-believing groups except in this one point where it states, “We believe the White, Anglo-Saxon, Germanic and kindred people to be God’s true, literal Children of Israel.” Not only is there the KKK but also the Christian Identity Movement which also misinterprets the Bible to justify racism. Their organization is called the Kingdom Identity Ministries and in their doctrinal statement they affirm the authority of scripture, the Trinity, salvation by grace, and many other major points. Yet, they also state that they believe that ‘Adam is the father of the White race only.’ Even in many fundamental Baptist churches across the south there are statements in their church constitution and by-laws that says that no blacks are allowed to be members of the church. Some churches may not have it in their constitution but yet it is an ‘unwritten’ law of the church. May I point out that this is not the case in all fundamental churches, but yet it is the case in more than you may want to believe. This kind of false ideas is what happens as result of compromising on God’s Word. When we begin to question God’s Word at the very beginning, it leads to a huge misinterpretation and misapplication of scripture. Remember, when you stray from the authority of God’s Word it opens the door for the justifying of any sin. This is why we must take God’s Word in its literal, historical, and grammatical sense. When we question Genesis one, the age of the earth, and the days of creation, it opens the door to question the creation of ‘kinds’ and thus pushes us toward the evolutionary idea that some ‘races’ has not evolved as great as others, thus justifying racism. Church, we must have a clear understand of Genesis and we must never compromise on God’s Word lest we too fall into Satan’s lies!
Not only do we see the roots of racism and the lies of racism but notice also the science of one race. You see, true science will always support what we find in the Bible. In Darwin’s day they did not have the technology we have today. Now we can study genetics and we can see how all human beings are much more similar than you have been lead to believe. All creationist and most all evolutionist agree that the various ‘races’ we have today did not have a separate origin. Those who believe that humans came from animals also believe that the various skins colors we see today came from humans themselves and not from different animals. It is interesting how the Bible has it right all along and science substantiates the Bible. In his book, One Race, One Blood, Ken Ham writes: “Every human being has the same basic pigment in the skin, it’s called: melanin. It is basically a brown color. Melanin protects the skin against damage by ultraviolet light from the sun. If you have too little melanin and you live in a very sunny environment, you will easily suffer sunburn and skin cancer. If you have a great deal of melanin and you live in a country where there is little sunlight, it is much harder for your body to get adequate amounts of vitamin D. Your body needs sunshine for its production of Vitamin D and melanin filters it out. If you don’t get enough vitamin D you could suffer a bone disorder.” When God created Adam and Eve, He made them with a perfect genetic makeup. Adam and Eve had all the information in them to produce a variety of skin colors. Over time as a result of sin and the climatic changes after the flood various genes were bred out of people. Ken Ham says, “In a sense, light skinned people have had the dark genes bred out of them. Darker-skinned people have had the light genes bred out of them. The only way to reintroduce diversity into their gene pool is to mate with others of different genetic varieties. When this happens, diversity is reintroduced into the gene pool and the offspring might be light, dark, or a combination in between.” The majority of the population of the world is what we would call middle-brown. Originally Middle-brown (which was Adam and Eve) had in them the genes of AaBb which would allow them to produce children with light, dark, and every shade in between all within one generation. But, how come middle-brown people do not produce many shades today? Ken Ham answers, “Groups of people who carry the aaBB or AAbb gene are able to produce middle-brown offspring. If these lines of people were interbreed again, the process would be reversed. In a short period of time their descendents would show a full range of shades, often in the same family.” Keep in mind, Adam and Eve were created perfect. They were able to produce all shades of skin which answers the question as to the variety of skin color we see today. But what about the scattering of people at the tower of Babel? How did we get the various people groups in different parts of the world today? When the people migrated from Babel they encountered different climates. Some people went to areas that had little sunlight. Those with dark skin would not be able to produce enough vitamin D and would not be healthy and would have less children and would not be able to survive. Over time, the light-skinned people in the less sunlight environment would prevail. The pressure of the environment can affect the balance of the genes within a group and could cause one group to be predominate over the other. This explains why we have darker-skinned people predominate in areas of the world that have more sunlight and lighter-skinned people in areas of lesser sunlight. There are some dark-skinned people who live in colder climates such as the Eskimos. However, it is believed that they have a genetic make-up that does not allow them to produce lighter offspring but they also have what they need for efficient Vitamin D so they are able to survive and adapt to a colder climate. The point is that in just a few generations after the tower of Babel we have a variety of skin colors and some skin colors being more prominent than others based on the environment in which they migrated to. Truly, science substantiates the Bible’s teaching that we all came from one man and one woman who had the perfect genetic make-up to produce all the various skin colors and because of sin the gene pool became more and more deficient and with the scattering of the peoples at the tower of Babel we have the various people groups living predominately in the climatic areas that you would expect. This all shows that God’s Word is true.
So, what does the Bible have to say? There are four basic facts that are clear to us in scripture.
1. We came from one man. First Corinthians 15:45 tells us that the first man was Adam. 2. We came from one woman. Genesis 3:20 tells us that Eve was the mother of all the living. Scientific research shows that Mitochondrial DNA is passed from mother to child and this DNA is similar in all people alive today. 3. We are fully human at conception. Psalm 139:14-16 shows how God knew us even when we were just a substance in our mother’s womb. It has been scientifically proven that all the genetic information needed to make a person is present at the very moment of conception! How in the world do people justify abortion? The only way is to ignore true science and to deny the truth of God’s Word. 4. There is only on human race. We have a common ancestor. There are not many ‘races.’ There is not red and yellow, black and white. We are one, the human ‘kind’, just as the Bible says.
When it comes to the issue of racism there is only one conclusion. Racism is sin. To place one people group above another is an abomination to God. As believer’s we will never see revival in America until God’s people rid themselves of this terrible sin. And it all goes back to Genesis. A clear understanding of the first eleven chapters of Genesis leads us to the understanding that we are all created in the image of God, we are all sinners, and we all need a Savior.

Lessons from the flood and God’s covenant with Noah

pastorchrisnoland — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:40:24 +0000

One could spend a years of study on the subject of the flood and still never fully uncover all the truths that contained in this amazing historical event. In the previous chapter we looked at just a basic overview of the events surrounding the flood and some of the lessons that we can learn. In this chapter we are going to dig a little deeper and discover more amazing truths given to us in God’s Word.
We have mentioned before how that God’s instructions are very adequate and precise. Often times, however, we tend to overlook just how precise God’s Word and adequate God’s Word is. When God gave Noah instructions to build the ark, he took care of every detail. Some have suggested that the ark would have been very crowded with all those animals and food enough for more than a year. But, when you dig deep into the scripture, you will find that there was plenty of room on the ark. The ark was basically a square barge. It was 440 feet long and 73 feet wide and 44 feet high. This equals to 1,396,000 cubic feet. This size is equivalent to 520 railroad box cars. The various ‘kinds’ of animals we see in our world today would only need 120 box cars to have plenty of room. This leaves what is equivalent to 400 railroad box cars for food, storage, and Noah’s family. Amazing! Now, how do we know this? Is there proof that the animals would only need what amounts to 120 railroad box cars? In his book Noah’s Ark: A feasibility study, John Woodmorappe suggests that at most only 16,000 animals were needed on the ark and it could have been only 2,000. Others have suggested that as many as 50,000 animals could have fit on the ark along with supplies and Noah’s family. When the scripture mentions that God created the animals after their ‘kind’ and that God commanded Noah to put each ‘kind’ of land dwelling animal on the ark we need to consider the meaning of the word ‘kind’. The term ‘kind’ comes from the Hebrew word min. It is believed by most all Hebrew scholars that the word min is closely related to the family level in current taxonomy. We understand this to be true based on the categorization of animals recorded in Leviticus chapter 11. Based on the meaning of the word ‘kind’ a very conservative assumption by most all creation scientist is that there were no more than 16,000 animals on the ark. The question is also raised concerning the dinosaurs. How did the dinosaurs fit into the ark? It is believed that there are roughly 50 ‘kinds’ or ‘families’ of dinosaurs. Only 16% of those dinosaur families had an adult weight of over ten tons. However, even the young of the heaviest dinosaur is estimated to weigh only a few hundred kilograms by the time they reach just over a year old. Assuming that only young dinosaurs were on the ark then there was plenty of room. Based on these conservative assumptions we find that only 47% of the ark’s space was needed to house the animals. It is also estimated that only 6% to 7% of the space was needed for food and provisions and only 9% of space needed for water. This leaves us with over 30% of the space reserved for Noah and his family and, might I had, room enough for more people if others would have chose to go into the ark. We also need to understand that through modern day biological research we find that all it takes is one parent ‘kind’ in order to create the thousands of variations in animal life that we see today. In God’s creative power, He placed all the biological information needed in each animal ‘kind’ to created the amazing variety of animals we see today. We also learn that the same can be said of humans. All the biological information needed to provide the various shades of skin we see today was in the first man and first woman.
Another interesting fact concerning the ark is how the ark was able to clear the highest mountains. In Genesis 7:20 it reads that the mountains were covered by the waters. But how did the ark not crash into one of these mountains. The mountains were covered by 22 ½ feet of water. A draft is how far the boat can go into the water. With a 50% draft the ark would have cleared all mountains by 6 inches. What principle do we learn from this? What hidden spiritual nugget do we find here? You see, God takes care of us right down to the inches. He is precise, He is adequate, and He cares for you and for me.
Another thing we learn is God’s care for Noah’s family and the animals. We see God’s care in Genesis 8:1. The bringing of the animals into the ark was done by God (Genesis 7:9). There were no fish on the ark and plenty of food was taken into the ark. Most of the animals would have been in hibernation for much of the time which would have lessened the work load. It also should be understood that a lot of the animals were infant animals allowing ample space. In Genesis 8:17 we learn that there was no breeding on the ark because the exact number came off the ark as went on and then God commanded them to multiply. What can we learn from this? We learn that God is in control. When life seems hard and chaotic, we must trust in Him, because He knows what He is doing. If God took care of every detail for all those on the ark, how much more so does God take care of those who come to the cross?
It is also important to note the extent of the flood. Scientists are discovering more and more evidence that there was indeed a world-wide flood. But, do we really need the scientist to tell us that? The Bible clearly teaches that God sent a world-wide flood. God even knew that there would be those in our day that would question God’s Word and attempt to cast doubt on the Bible. That is why He wrote in His Word in 2 Peter 3:3-7: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” Even the New Testament testifies to a world-wide flood. It all comes down to whether or not you will believe God’s Word. Where is your faith? Is your faith in what man tells you or in what God’s Word tells you?
Secular Scientist and Geologist have been scratching their heads trying to make sense of the geological record. If they would just look to the Bible they would find the answer. It has been observed in our time that huge catastrophic events would create massive changes to the appearance of the earth. When you look at locations on our planet such as the Grand Canyon, we find that it did not take millions of years to make that canyon. There is evidence that point to a large catastrophic event involving huge amounts of water that carved the canyon within days. Truly, the flood is the answer for geological history.
Now that we have taken a close look at the great flood itself, we will not turn our attention to the events that took place right after the flood. The post-flood events in Noah’s family can be read in Genesis 8:20-9:29. The first thing we see here is the Noahic Covenant. In Genesis 8:20-22 we find Noah building an altar to the Lord and worshipping Him. God received Noah’s offering and made a covenant with Him in Genesis 9:18-17. God’s covenant with Noah was that He would carry the ‘seed’ through Noah. He would make Noah a great family and through His bloodline God will send a Savior. God also covenanted with Noah that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood and from this point on the earth will continue as it is until it is destroyed with fire. There are two basic lessons we can learn from God’s covenant with Noah. The first lesson is that the covenant is unconditional. There was nothing that Noah had to do and there was nothing that would break the covenant. God’s covenant with us at the cross is also unconditional. The scripture teaches us that there is nothing you have to do in order to gain favor with God, just believe by faith. When you place your faith and trust in Him, He will give you the gift of grace and nothing can take it away from you. A second lesson we see here is that the covenant is confirmed by a rainbow. God places a rainbow in the sky to remind Noah and all of us to this day that He is in control and that He will never destroy the earth again with a flood. Today, our covenant with Christ is confirmed in the cross. Those who believe in Him will never face the penalty of sin because the cross confirms the payment for our sin. We have the power to overcome sin in this life because the cross of Christ gives us that power. We will forever be set free from the very presence of sin because the cross gives no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Thank God for the cross! Not only do we see the Noahic Covenant, but also notice that after the flood we have God’s blessing and instruction. This is recorded in Genesis 9:1-7. God blesses Noah and commands him to go and repopulate the earth. He also gives man charge over the animal kingdom and now allows the eating of meat. God also gives Noah instructions on having a simple form of human government that respects all life. As believers, we have the same responsibility today. We are to raise godly children and convert lost souls. We are to have dominion over the animal kingdom though we are also to respect all of life both man and beast.
What is the most interesting thing of all concerning the historical account of the world-wide flood as recorded in scripture is the story of redemption. Through it all, God is leading us to the Savior. It is all about Him receiving glory through giving to us His unconditional gift of love, salvation, and grace.

The Great Flood

pastorchrisnoland — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:19:28 +0000

The great flood as recorded in scripture has been under scrutiny for many years. Some will say that the flood was just a local flood; others will say that the flood never even happened. However, the proof for the flood is overwhelming especially in the science of geology. A careful study of rock layers and fossils show that at one time in earth’s history there was a catastrophic event that caused the entire earth to be covered with water. Fossils of marine animals have been found on some of the highest mountains in the world. Contrary to what many secular geologist would say; an in-depth study of the Grand Canyon reveals how the canyon was formed by a whole lot of water in a short period of time and not a little bit of water over a long period of time. When you examine the changes that have occurred as a result of other catastrophic events such as the eruption of Mount St. Helen, we find that a huge event such as a world-wide flood would drastically change the appearance of the earth in just a short period of time. Not only do we have the physical evidence for a world-wide flood, but we also have this historical account written in a book by God, the Bible. We must remember that the Bible is the final authority in all matters and if the Bible says there was a world-wide flood; then we can firmly, without any doubt, believe that there was indeed a world-wide flood.
There are several things to consider in our study of the great flood. First of all notice, the reason for the flood. The reason for the flood is described to us in the first seven verses of Genesis chapter six. In these verses, we find that with the population of the earth, sin also rapidly grew. It got to the point where God could only find one truly righteous man, Noah. Sin, of course, cannot be ignored. Because of God’s great love for mankind, He could not allow them to continue in sin. Therefore, God decided that He would judge the world for its sin and send a world-wide flood. Noah, found grace in the eyes of God and God decided to save Noah and his family along with two of every kind of land creature. The flood was God’s just judgment on sin. This judgment occurred because loved mankind and desired to purge the earth from sin and give mankind a second chance through Noah’s family. The reason for the flood is also the same reason for the cross. Jesus came down to this earth and died on the cross in order to pay the penalty of sin for us. He died because of your sin and my sin. It is interesting to see the parallel here. Just as God provided a way of salvation from His wrath in Noah’s day, God provides a way of salvation for us today through the cross of Jesus Christ.
A second thing to make note of is God’s instructions to Noah. We find the instructions that God gives to Noah in Genesis 6:13-21. There are two things that we learn from God’s instructions to Noah. The first lesson we learn is that God give precise instructions. God told Noah every detail. He told him what kind of wood to use, the exact dimensions for the ark, and even how to put it all together. He also gives Noah detailed instructions on bringing in two of every kind of animal and even the need for food both for his family and the animals. This detailed instruction given to Noah shows that God is very precise in His instructions to man. He has given us His word, the Bible, in order to reveal to us all that He desires that we know about Him. He has given us detailed information on everything from the creation of the world, the fall of man, the great flood, the scattering of peoples at the tower of Babel, the promise of a savior, the salvation provided through the cross, marriage and family, raising children, handling finances, all the way to what will happen in the future. God’s word has the answers to all the questions that we have about life. As a matter of fact, when you have a high view of scripture, you don’t need to look to outside sources. The Bible is really all we need. That brings us to the second thing that we learn from God’s instructions to Noah. God’s instructions to Noah are adequate instructions. In other words, Noah did not need any more information. God’s Word is adequate. If you want to know how to have a good marriage, look to God’s Word, it’s all you need. If you want to know how to raise godly children, look to God’s Word, it’s all you need. If you want to know how to handle your finances, look to God’s Word, it’s all you need. If you want to know your role in the church, look to God’s Word, it’s all you need. If you want to know the way of to heaven, look to God’s Word it’s all you need. If you want to know what will happen in the future, look to God’s Word, it’s all you need. God’s Word has the answers to every question. It provides comfort, hope, joy, and assurance. God’s Word is adequate, it is all we need!
A third thing we learn in this historical account of the great flood is Noah’s Obedience. Notice in verse 22 of chapter 6 that Noah did ‘according to all that God commanded him, so did he.’ How are we to respond to God’s Word? We respond to God’s Word through obedience. Notice how Noah never questioned what God was doing. He never doubted God; he simply did what God said. Any other response we have toward God’s Word, other than perfect obedience, is a sin against God. Sin is not just doing bad things. Sin is missing the mark. Our mark is the Word of God, the Bible. Anytime we do things the Bible tells us not to do, we have sinned. Anytime we don’t do things the Bible tells us to do, we have sinned. Today, many believers have fallen into the trap of questioning God’s Word and compromising on His Word. If we desire the Holy Spirit of God to move in our lives and in our church, we must respond to His Word in complete obedience without question and without compromise.
Another thing we see in the historical account of the great flood is the Coming into the ark. In chapter seven we see Noah, his family, and the animals coming into the ark. It is important to note that God told Noah to bring in every animal after its ‘kind’. This explains how Noah got all those animals in the ark, including the dinosaur ‘kind’. It has been discovered through modern scientific methods that living things contain huge genetic codes that allow them to reproduce and adapt in a way that can create many species. This is not evolving into higher forms of species, but changes and adaptations within a species. For example, all Noah need on the ark was a male cat and a female cat. The genetic codes in those cats contain all the information needed to produce every type of cat we see today. The same is true when it comes to dogs and horses, and all other animal ‘kinds’. It has even been discovered that human beings are capable of the same thing. This explains the various ‘races’ we have today as we all come from one common ancestor, Adam and Eve. Everything needed in order for life to continue and for the amazing variety of life and culture to be as we see it today was in the ark. There is a spiritual lesson that we learn here, however. For many years, while building the ark, Noah was preaching to the people of his day. He warned them about the coming flood and their need for repentance and turning to God. The ark was their way of salvation, all they needed to do was to believe and enter into the ark. Today, all we need to do is believe and enter into the saving grace of Jesus that was given to us at the cross. God is not asking you to do anything. He is not even asking you to do good deeds, He is just standing there with His arms stretched wide, compelling you to come in. The door to heaven is open, all you must do is believe and enter.
A final important fact to consider is the actual historical description of the flood. The scripture tells us in Genesis chapter seven that it rained upon the earth for forty days and nights. Not only was there constant torrential rainfall, but the fountains of the deep broke open. Imagine how catastrophic the flood was. Huge walls of water gushing out of the earth’s surface, massive amounts of rainfall all over the planet, so much that even the highest mountains were covered with water. This was an event unlike anything we have ever seen in our modern time. The flood carved out massive canyons within days. It changed the entire landscape of the earth. It carried huge layers of sediment all across the globe. Animal fossils were rapidly formed and placed all over the earth even on the highest of mountains. As a result of the flood, huge violent storms would sweep across the planet for years after the flood. High water temperatures caused massive hurricanes. As a result of the rise in water temperature the water evaporated quickly, cooling the atmosphere and causing huge snow storms that led to the ice age. From the time of the flood to perhaps even hundreds of years after, the earth was very unstable and it caused drastic changes to the earth, evidence of such changes can be seen to this day. What can we learn from all of this? We learn that when God gives us His Word, He means business. He does not do anything halfway. He goes all out in order to rid the world of sin so much so that He went all the way to the cross; giving His life so that sin can be paid for and mankind could have the hope of eternal life. I don’t know about you, but I am very thankful for the love of God. If God did not love mankind, He would have never sent the flood. If God did not love you and me, He would have never gone to the cross. Thank God for His great love!

The Rise of Sin

pastorchrisnoland — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:41:18 +0000

Sin is a terrible thing. It is like a cancer that slowly spreads until it chokes the life out of you. All of the problems that we see in our world today, all of the pain and the misery; is all a direct result of the presence of sin in our world that began from the time that Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis chapter six we find that the earth’s population has expanded and with the population growth we also find the progression into a greater and greater state of sin. In this chapter we will examine just how bad sin can get and the hurt that it brings to the heart of God.
In verse one and two of Genesis six we have the difficult issue regarding the sons of God. There have been many views as to who the sons of God are. One of those views is the angel view. This view states that the sons of God are fallen angels who marry and bear children by human women. There is some very good evidence to support this view. The term ‘sons of God’ is the Hebrew term ‘bene elohim’ which in every other case in the Old Testament is used in reference to angels. There is also an ancient interpretation that is supported by the book of Enoch. This view also claims 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6-7 as support. Even with all this evidence we find a huge snag in this view. The New Testament clearly shows in several incidents that sexuality is not attributed to angels. (Matt. 22:30, Mark 12:25, Luke 20:34-35). Though this view can be compelling, and is one that I have personally held to in the past, it has its problems. Another view concerning who the ‘sons of God’ are in Genesis chapter six is the Sethite-Cainite view. This view says that the sons of God are men from the godly line of Seth who inter-marry with Cainite women. This actually appears to be a very natural interpretation of this passage, but it has not been widely supported due to the lack of dealing with the actual terminology in this passage. However, this is another view that is also compelling to me because it simply makes sense. When believers and non-believers inter-marry, we find a host of problems and a rise in worldliness and sin. In many ways the church today has inter-married with the world and as a result it is hard to tell a difference between someone who claims to be a believer and someone who is not. There is certainly a very good principle that can be applied with the support of this view. There is also another view which asserts that the sons of God are political rulers who committed the moral sin of forced polygamy. This view is called the noble view. Those who hold to this view focus on the phrase that they took wives ‘from all which they choose.’ When it comes to this view there is not a lot of historical evidence that would point to such an idea. A final view that many hold concerning the ‘sons of God’ is the demon-possessed view. This view says that the ‘sons of God’ were demon-possessed men. This could be an explanation for the punishment given to the angels that sinned in Jude 6. Jude 6 describes angels who left their habitation perhaps to inhabit the bodies of humans. These angels are now described as being in prison in hell. This is another view that I could personally accept. Three out of the four views presented are views that, I believe, can be easily accepted. This is defiantly a difficult passage to consider, however, it must be noted that in no way is there multiple meanings. God knows the truth and He has given us the truth even though in our finite minds we cannot understand all things. This is just one of those things that perhaps we will know and understand when we get to heaven. Whatever view you take concerning the ‘sons of God’ it has no bearing on the authority of scripture and brings no doubt to the authenticity of the Word of God.
In verse three we see the striving of God. This term refers to keeping down, rule, judge, or strive with a man by moral force. We can say that this is referring to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. It is said here that God will not strive with man forever. In other words, there is a point in time in which God says enough is enough and He will remove His convicting power. In Noah’s day we see that God’s striving with man has reached a crisis point and time is about up. God even shows how He has given the people an exact time period for them to repent. They were given 120 years. This is believed to date back sometime before the birth of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, as there is only about 100 years between their birth and the flood. There are several things we can learn here. One is that God will not touch the free agency of his rational creatures. In other words, God will never force anyone to believe in Him. To be given faith, hope, love, and forgiveness in an involuntary way would contradict the very nature of God. He does not force salvation on anyone though He offers salvation to everyone. Secondly, God will, after giving ample warning, instruction, and invitation, He will as a just judgment on the unbelieving and unrepentant heart, withdraw His Spirit and leave them alone. This time period that we see here in this passage is fast approaching the removal of the Spirit’s drawing to salvation. A third and final thing we learn here is that God has a specific time table for every individual. You will never know God’s time table for you, but He does have one. He will give you ample opportunities to turn from yourself and to turn to Him in repentance and obedience. If you do not trust in Him during His time for you then all hope will be lost. This is why, ‘today is the day of salvation.’ This could be the last time that you will be given the opportunity to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Don’t miss the opportunity. Accept the free gift of salvation that He is offering to you before your time runs out.
In verse four of Genesis six we see the results of the ungodly acts of the ‘sons of God.’ The offspring of the ‘sons of God’ were strong and intelligent men. They were men of great physical strength and great mental strength. These men were powerful, indicating an emphasis on themselves instead of humbleness before God. We learn here that when we continue in sin it results in a greater rise in humanistic thinking. It is a desire to become great and to handle life on our own apart from God. The lesson we need to understand is that the more we continue in sin, the further away from God we become. We begin to rely upon ourselves, rather than relying on God.
In verse five and six we see that sin grieves the heart of God. The rise of sin has come to the eyes of God and He sees that man is living in a continual state of sin. At this point, it ‘repented’ God that He had made man. This does not mean that God changed his mind. The better translation here is that it ‘grieved’ the Lord. This is an anthropomorphic expression for the pain of Divine love for sinful man. This shows us that when we sin, it grieves God. He is hurt by it, just as a parent who is hurt by rebellious actions of their children. I don’t know about you but I cringe at the thought of grieving God. It is my desire to be pleasing to God, to be acceptable to Him, and not to cause Him pain.
Finally, in verse seven we see the justice of God. God decides that He must punish His creation for the rise of sin and He decides to destroy man with a flood. You see, sin cannot be overlooked. It cannot go unpunished, it must be dealt with. Ultimately, God dealt with the penalty of sin on the cross. However, even for those who are believers, we must understand that there are consequences for sin in this life. When we continue in sin, we will face consequences. This is not because God enjoys punishing us. He punishes us because He loves us. I discipline my children, not to be mean, but because I love them. God disciplines us out of love. Are you facing the discipline of God? Is there some sin that has hindered your relationship with Him? If so, get it right before God’s time table runs out. Just as in the days of Noah, God is warning us to turn from our wicked ways and turn to Him. How will we respond?

Adam’s Genealogy

pastorchrisnoland — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:16:11 +0000

The study of the genealogies recorded in scripture may seem rather boring to some. I must admit that when I read through scripture, I often skip over the long list of names that I cannot even pronounce. However, we must understand that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable…” When we look a little closer at the genealogies recorded in scripture we find some very interesting facts that is profitable to our understanding of the Bible as a whole, which in turn give greater credence to our belief in the word of God.
The major question that comes to mind is simply, ‘why do we need to study the genealogies of scripture?’ The answer to this question is also very simple. The reason we need to study the genealogies of scripture is because it makes the Bible more authentic. These are real people with real names who lived and walked on this earth. We also find that the genealogies coincide with the message of the Bible. Looking at the genealogies helps us to understand the Bible in a literal way and gives proof to the need to study the Bible through a literal historical grammatical hermeneutic.
There are some very interesting facts that we can learn from the early genealogies in scripture, in particular with what we see in Genesis chapters four and five. First, we see further proof for a young earth. In this study we have already dealt with the issue of creation and the need for believers to stand firm on the fact that God created the world in six literal days. We also must make sure that we look to scripture as the final authority and that we do not sway from a literal historical grammatical view of scripture. There is much evidence that substantiates the Biblical account of the world. No matter how much supposed evidence that secular scientist give for an earth that is billions of years old, there is just as much evidence, if not more, that shows that the earth is much younger. The purpose of our study here is to not look at an exhaustive list of all the evidence but to simply show what the scripture says. When you study the genealogies in scripture, you will find that the earth would be dated not much more than 6,000 years old. How do we know this? In Mark 10:6 Jesus says, “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.” Jesus acknowledged the fact that Adam and Eve were made at the ‘beginning of creation.’ Now, look at the genealogy of Adam. We know the time that Jesus was on the earth. When you look at the generations recorded in scripture and you count back from the time of Jesus we find that Adam was created roughly 4,000 years before Christ. From the time of Christ till now is roughly 2,000 years. Therefore, we may conclude that the earth is just over 6,000 years old. We have already established that God created the world in six literal days. This must be true because Adam is given an age. Since Adam is created on the sixth day, then the days of Adam began on that day. Therefore, the sixth and seventh days of creation would have to be literal days. If the six and seventh days are literal then so would the other five days. So, you see, very clearly in scripture, we have proof that earth is a young earth in comparison to what secular scientist would say. The study of Adam’s genealogy simply provides even more proof of the Biblical fact that the earth is just over 6,000 years old.
The second interesting fact that we need to understand is the separation of the line of Abel (Seth) and the line of Cain. In Genesis four we see the account of when Cain killed Abel. In the latter part of the chapter it gives the genealogy of the line of Cain. In chapter five we find the genealogy of Adam and the line of his son Seth. We see the birth of Seth in Genesis 4:25 where it reads, “And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: for God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.” Notice the word ‘seed.’ From the very beginning when Adam and Eve sinned, God already had a plan in place to send a Savior. Abel was the one who was to carry the ‘seed’ by which the Savior would come. It is interesting that Abel was a keeper of sheep. The scriptures place a huge significance on the blood sacrifice of a lamb. Of course, we know that Jesus is the Lamb of God who made the ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross. Cain was a tiller of the ground, of the earth. He brought forth the fruit of the ground which could be a picture of man’s achievements and the pleasures of the world. All throughout history we find Satan attempting to destroy the ‘seed.’ He knew that God had a plan in place. He knew that there would be a counter attack for what happened in the garden when he tempted Eve to sin. Satan saw that Abel was a keeper of sheep. He knew that there was something important pertaining to the care of an animal, for God killed an animal in the garden to make coats of skin for Adam and Eve. Cain, however, followed in the way of the fruit. Satan then put two and two together and realized that the seed of Abel would be the one through which an atonement for sin would be made. So, he planted seeds of jealousy and anger and resentment in the heart of Cain. He used Cain to attack the ‘seed.’ But, God is always one step ahead of Satan. He gives Adam and Eve another son to replace Abel and it is through the line of Seth that the Savior comes to the world. Was it just a coincidence that Abel was a keeper of sheep? Was it just a coincidence that Cain, keeper of the ground (the earth) was the one to kill Abel? No, of course not! This is what makes the Bible so remarkable. This is why if we don’t get the beginning right, we will get the end wrong. God’s plan of redemption runs like a thread through the pages of scripture. My friend, God knows what He is doing. He is real and He is in control and He has a plan, and I don’t know about you, but I want to be a part of His plan!
Another interesting fact that we find in the genealogy of Adam is the man that walked with God all the way to heaven. In Genesis 5:21-24 we see the account of the life of Enoch. Now Enoch was a son of Seth. Enoch begot Methuselah who begot Lamech who begot Noah. So, you see, Enoch was also carrying the ‘seed’. Enoch, however, had a very unique relationship with God. Enoch walked with God. I like to think that Enoch walked with God in a literal sense as did Adam in the garden. He obviously had a special relationship with God. His relationship with God was enjoyed by God so much that He took Enoch. Some say that this could be a picture of the rapture of the church. I am not sure we can go that far, but we do find a man here that had a very special relationship with God. What about you? Are you walking with God? Do you have a special relationship with Him? Is your time with God so sweet at times that it seems you are just going to walk right on up to heaven with Him? O, that we would be known as a people who walk with God. When our last breath is taken and our body is laid in the ground, what will people say? What will be our legacy? Will we be known for walking with God?
Another interesting fact that we find in the genealogy of Adam is that Methuselah is the oldest man recorded in scripture. What it interesting about the life of Methuselah is that he was a contemporary with both Adam and Noah. He would have been an adult when Adam died and he lived all the way up until right before the flood. No doubt, Methuselah would have sat and talked with Adam, after all, they were a part of the same family. Imagine the stories that Adam would have told. Perhaps the reason Noah was found as a righteous man was because he believed what his father and grandfather told him concerning how Adam sinned and how God made a sacrifice for Adam’s sin and then forced him to leave the garden. I wonder if Methuselah even went to the edge of the Garden of Eden and saw the Cherubim that guarded the garden and kept people from going in. Perhaps he even took Noah to see the Cherubim standing in front of the garden. The Garden of Eden was not destroyed until the flood, therefore, these men may have stood outside the garden. Perhaps this was a testimony to them. Perhaps this is the reason as to why Enoch walked with God and Noah was found as a righteous man. Perhaps through the witness of their fathers and the testimony of the garden they believed in God and it was counted to them for righteousness.
The final interesting fact we see in the genealogy of Adam is that Adam’s genealogy points us to Christ. The amazing thing about scripture is that the thread of redemption is running through its pages. From the sacrifice in the Garden of Eden to cloth Adam and Eve to Seth replacing Abel as the ‘seed’ to Noah who was found righteous and God saves Him from the flood to Noah’s son Shem who continued to carry the ‘seed’; it all leads to Jesus! You see, from the very beginning, God had a plan. He had you and me in mind and he had a plan to bring a Savior who would save us from the penalty of sin. It is amazing to see how God works in the very details of history to bring about His plan and His purpose. Just as God has shaped history to bring salvation to the world, God also has a unique plan for you. It is His desire that you love Him and have a relationship with Him. It is His desire that you serve Him and worship Him all the days of your life. It is His desire to give you a home with Him forever in heaven. God is at work, the question is, will you get in on it? Will you accept God’s plan for your life?