Noah

by David Neal

The Lord commanded Noah to build an ark in faith for the saving
of his soul. How was this accomplished? Noah did according to all
that God commanded him, so did he. Noah was only required to
obey God’s direction and thus to “walk with God.” Every single
day Noah exercised his faith (“fear” of God) – board by board, nail
by nail, pitch by pitch the ark started taking shape. Noah was
provided with an overall plan (path) to follow and every day the
Lord filled in the details. This ark was to become his refuge in the
day of the Lord when judgment was come upon the earth.
Similarly, every one of us has been commanded by the Lord to
build and ark for the saving of our souls (1 Pt 1:9). How is this
accomplished? Every day we surrender and obey God’s direction.
Jesus Christ has provided us “the path” – an example to follow
(Jn 14:6, 1 Pt 2:21-24). We walk as Jesus walked and every day
the Holy Ghost provides the details (Rm 8:14). We must do
according to all God commands us, so we must do (Jn 14:15).
Noah was just, perfect and walked with God. A just man “fears”
God (surrenders and obeys) and avoids all evil. Noah spent 120
years building the ark – a lifetime for us. Had Noah participated in
the things of the world (wickedness and evil) around him, the ark
would not have gotten built and he would have perished with “the
vast majority.” Similarly, we must “fear” God, known as faith.
This walk of faith will last a lifetime, but at the end of our faith we
received the salvation of our souls (1 Pt 1:9). We are hid in this
ark of refuge that is constructed through our obedience to the
Lord – this is our righteousness. If we walk in the ways of the
flesh seeking its lusts (the things of the world), then the ark will
not get constructed. A partial ark will be of no use when the
floods of God’s judgment come. Whosoever heareth the sayings of
Jesus, and doeth them will prevail when the rain descends, and
the floods come, and the winds blow (Mt 7:24-25, 1 Jn 2:29).

Background

Noah was born the son of Lamech, the tenth generation removed
from Adam - one thousand and fifty six (1056) years after the
creation of man. At the birth of Noah only Adam, Seth and Enoch
(from his family lineage) were deceased or taken (see attached
pre-flood timeline). Noah had the opportunity to personally know
many of his forefathers: Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared,
Methusalah and Lamech. Noah was born in a time when the
wickedness of man had reached its peak – the point of God’s
judgment.

Message

Psalms 53:2, “God looked down from heaven upon the children of
men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek
God.” Genesis 6:5, 11-12, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of
man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The earth also was
corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And
God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all
flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” This was the end
result of Adam’s original transgression. This is where following the
desires of the flesh will lead you. Adam had disobeyed God in
Eden to seek his own will. To seek one’s own will is to disregard
God’s authority. This is the wicked nature of fallen man and is the
image of Satan who is the father of all those who walk in such
darkness (Jn 8:44). Wickedness would be evil practices or actions
done as a result of departing from God’s will. This would be
manifested as all manner of sinfulness, evil disposition or
practices, and general immorality - which is the opposite of God’s
nature. The wicked reject God’s claim on their lives. God made it
very clear to man in Eden, that if man transgressed the Lord’s will
and ate of the forbidden tree that “thou shalt surely die (Gen
2:17). Satan tempted man to disobey God in order to seek selfish
benefit and essentially said, “come follow me.” This is what the
devil had done in transgressing God’s will to seek his own. The
devil told man that he would be as a god able to choose his own
path and in so doing, “ye shall not surely die (Gen 3:4-5).” This of
course was opposite or contrary to what God had said. When the
devil speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and
the father of it (Jn 8:44). This lie of being able to seek “self” and
maintain life apart from God was the devil’s concoction
(fabrication, fiction). This was what he had done in his rebellion
against God. So, Satan was inviting man to follow him in his path
(or broad way, Mt 7:13) and was offering him forbidden fruit
(without penalty) as enticement. The devil was telling man he
could seek “self” and transgress God’s will without having to pay
the penalty. Man partook of this forbidden fruit and great was his
fall. Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into
the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men,
for that all have sinned.” God’s truth stood and Satan’s lie and
great deception was revealed as God’s condemnation of death
entered into the world. To seek reality apart from God is to be cut
off from the very source of life (Gen 2:7). There is no life apart
from God. Job 12:10, “In whose hand is the soul of every living
thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Life is only found in
surrender and obedience to the will of God. Man left God’s light
(and life) and entered into the darkness (and death). Man left
God’s truth and entered into Satan’s lie. Man’s very nature was
corrupted. To be corrupted is to be infected with error, vitiated or
depraved – changed from good to bad; defiled, perverted, marred
(impaired), debased, and rendered impure.

The devil infected man with his lie and made man corrupt and
useless to God. Satan was multiplying his corruption across God’s
creation. Therefore, those who walk in such darkness, in seeking
their own will, only walk further away from God. They go from
bad to worse. Man had reached the point where every thought of
his heart was constantly evil. When the wicked are
multiplied, transgression increaseth (Pv 29:16). Evil is the
deviation from the rules of conduct prescribed by God and
violation of the principles of God’s will or justice. Evil is further
defined as corruption of heart; depravity (destitute of holiness or
good principles, corrupt); disposition to commit wickedness;
malignity or violence (evil dispositions of the heart toward
another, hostility); qualities that injure or produce mischief;
perverseness (obstinate in wrong, disposed to be contrary,
stubbornness, untractable); wrongfulness, corruption, and evil
thoughts and deeds. Wickedness does not spring forth from
seeking God and walking in His direction. Wickedness comes
about as a result of man seeking his will/way and following the
lusts and desires of his corrupted flesh – for they consider not
that they do evil (Eccl 5:1). The power of darkness is found in the
lusts of the flesh. The wicked “hate” God (Job 8:22)! What does it
mean to “hate” God? Hate is the sacrifice of another for the
benefit of self and this is the opposite of “love.” So to “hate” God
would be to sacrifice the Lord and disregard His will/way for your
own self seeking way and presumed benefit – to pursue your
“will.” Psalms 10:4, “The wicked, through the pride of his
countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his
thoughts.” Pride is self exaltation. God is not in the thoughts of
the proud, but what is? The answer is every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Wickedness and
evil were in man’s thoughts. The wicked boasteth of his heart’s
desire (Ps 10:3). Job 34:9, “For he hath said, It profiteth a man
nothing that he should delight himself with God.” Job 21:14-15,
“Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not
the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should
serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?”
Job 22:17, “Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can
the Almighty do for them?” Those who are wicked only seek
selfishly benefit – they are self-centered. They sacrifice God to
seek their own way. To walk in God’s way you must die to self
and become God-centered. Perhaps you can see the great
conflict? Psalms 36:1, “The transgression of the wicked saith
within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.” The
fear of God equates to faith, which is reverence for God’s
authority, obeying His commands and hating and shunning all
form of evil. Man’s thoughts translated into his actions, for the
world was filled with violence. This was deliberate, presumptuous
and premeditated evil. Violence is built upon the foundation of
pride (self exaltation) whereby one sacrifices others for the
benefit of self – known as hate. This is outwardly manifested as
aggression and hatred toward others – to gain place at another’s
loss. This is unjust physical force an assault with intent to injure
in sacrificing others for your own selfish will (murder, rape, theft,
bondage, fighting, etc.). Therefore, men did not look to God for
direction or have regard for His way. They sought their own
selfish way. In doing so, man’s actions were evil before the Lord.
How does flesh corrupt its way upon the earth? By seeking the
way of the flesh rather than the way of God. The way of the flesh
is its lusts and desires and inclination to exalt self (sacrificing all
others) in realizing its way. Those who seek self and disregard
God will ultimately come to a place that every imagination of the
thoughts of the heart are only evil continually.

The more man seeks his flesh (lusts and desires), the greater
man disregards the authority of God. There can only be one
authority and direction in your life. You can only walk one path at
a time. You are either following God’s way or you are following
your own (via the devil’s great lie). To seek your way gives the
devil worship because you are abiding in his “lie” rather than
God’s “truth.” In other words you are “following” the devil in his
way which is a lie (and produces death), rather than “following”
Christ in “The Way” which is “The Truth” which produces “Life” (Jn
14:6). Genesis 6:7, “And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom
I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast,
and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth
me that I have made them.” So how does God regard those (the
wicked) who disrespect and have contempt for Him by seeking
their own selfish will? The Lord abhorreth them (Ps 10:3) and is
angry with the wicked every day (Ps 7:11). The wicked and him
that loveth violence his soul hateth (Ps 11:5) and the Lord is far
from them (Pv 15:29). The thoughts and way of the wicked are
an abomination unto the Lord (Pv 15:9, 26). God will not dwell
eternally with that which opposes Him. Man had become totally
corrupted and the Lord God decided to impose His condemnation
of, “thou shalt surely die (Gen 2:17).” The wickedness and evil of
man had reached the point of judgment (the place of no return)
and the Creator was/is perfectly within His right to impose
sentencing and penalty at God’s discretion (good judgment,
righteous determination) - anytime. The Lord is talking about
destroying the whole of mankind. Man was created to serve God
and for His good pleasure (Rev 4:11). However, man only sought
to serve “self” as driven by his lusts. Man was suppose to be
conformed to God’s image, but rather was being conformed to
Satan’s image. The Lord’s purposes were not being realized in
man. God had no pleasure in His creation of man. Proverbs 2:22,
“But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the
transgressors shall be rooted out of it.” It is imperative that you
realize what brings God pleasure and what is an abominable to
Him. Surrendering to God in love and obedience brings Him
pleasure. Seeking your own will or way is corruption and is
abominable to God. These are the two ways or paths! Everything
is judged based upon which way you walk as demonstrated
through your “actions” and not “words.”

The hope of mankind was found in a single individual. Genesis

6:8, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Noah was a
just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with
God (Gen 6:9). Out of an entire world population, only one
individual could be found that gained God’s favor (allowed the
Lord place in his life) – there was none like Noah in all the earth.
The word “just” means to live in conformity to God’s will; being
honest, upright, righteous and meeting God’s purposes. The Lord
defines a perfect man as one that feareth God and escheweth evil
(Job 1:8, 2:3). Fearing God is love, surrender and obedience to
the Lord’s will. To eschew evil is to abstain, abhor, refrain, depart,
hate, cease, reprove and cleanse “self” from all evil and
wickedness (Eph 5:11, 1 Pt 3:11, 1 Thess 5:22, Rm 12:9, Ps
34:19, 37:27, 97:10, 119:101, Pv 3:7, 4:14-15, 8:13, 14:16,
16:17, Is 1:16, Amos 5:15, 2 Cor 7:1). Psalm 111:10, “The fear
of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding
have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for
ever (also Ps 19:9, 112:1, Pv 1:7, 9:10).” The fear of the Lord,
that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding (Job
28:28, also Pv 3:7). Notice that Noah “walked with God.” To
“walk with God” means that you are walking in the Lord’s way and
not your own way. You are going where God decides and not
where you decide - your way is driven by the lust of the flesh.
Psalms 128:1, “Blessed is every one thatfeareth the LORD;
that walketh in his ways.” AND Psalms 119:2-3, “Blessed are they
that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole
heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.” Noah’s
great-grandfather Enoch had also “walked with God.” Genesis
5:24, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took
him.” The Lord had taken Enoch in his 365th year (69 years before
the birth of Noah) because: Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was
translated that he should not see death; and was not found,
because God had translated him: for before his translation he had
this testimony, that he pleased God.” Enoch “feared” God, which
is the same thing as faith, and this “pleased” God. Now Noah is
also “just” and “perfect” and “walks with God” and the Lord is
pleased with him. This is quite a testimony in a world that is
totally corrupted. Consider that surrender and obedience to God
requires a denial of self. Eschewing evil also requires a denial of
self. To walk with God in the Lord’s way means that you cannot
be walking in your way. What we are talking about here is a
sacrifice of “self” for God’s benefit and this is known as “love.” To
be under God’s authority means that you cannot be walking in
your own authority or seeking “self” – you cannot be as a god per
the devil’s lie (Gen 3:5). In other words, this is a complete
renunciation and rejection of Satan’s lie. Rather than
transgressing God’s will, Noah was obeying God’s will. Rather
than seeking his own way, Noah was walking in God’s way. Noah
was doing the opposite of Satan’s lie and the opposite of the
population of the entire world. Consider how unique Noah must
have been to stand alone against such evil and wickedness. The
whole world must have considered him to be a real “peculiar”
person – an oddball. Consider the constraint (restriction,
limitation) on “self” not to participate or be a part of the
widespread evil – you know, everybody’s doing it. To walk in
God’s way is to reject all others. This is to have devotion to God
and walk in His ways even if none go with you (steadfast
resolve).

Noah had to completely die to “self” to serve God. The prideful

are self exalting, so Noah was the opposite, which is meek. The
proud exalt self and the meek deny self. Meekness is submission
to divine will without murmuring; softness of temper; mildness;
gentleness; and forbearance under injuries. The earth was filled
with violence, yet Noah was gentle and mild, with softness of
temper. Noah had come out of the devil’s darkness and was
walking in God’s light. Noah was “just” and the just shall live by
faith (Rm 1:17). Noah’s righteousness was found in his faith,
which is his “fear” of God (Rm 3:22, 4:5, 9, 4:11, 13, 9:30, 10:6,
Gal 5:5, Php 3:9, Heb 11:7, 2 Pt 1:1). God’s purposes were being
realized in Noah. Now we must understand the “grace” that God
was working in Noah. Titus 2:11-12, “For the grace of God that
bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Can you
see how this grace sanctified or set apart Noah from the
wickedness of the world? Noah “feared” God and denied the
worldly lusts that consumed the people around him. Noah was
just and lived righteously and godly through faith. The Lord God’s
purposes were being worked in Noah. Philippians 2:13, “For it is
God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.”

Genesis 6:3, 13-16, “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not
always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall
be an hundred and twenty years. And God said unto Noah, The
end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with
violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the
earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make
in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And
this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the
ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits,
and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the
ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the
ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and
third stories shalt thou make it.” The Holy Spirit would not
continue to endeavor with earnestness or labor hard with man to
turn his heart back to God. Man was corrupt, wicked, evil and
filled with violence. The Lord would give man 120 years respite
(delay of condemnation) to repent and forsake his evil ways. The
Lord has always consistently said: Isaiah 55:7, “Let the wicked
forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let
him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and
to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” In other words, God
desires man to completely renounce (relinquish, abandon, reject,
repudiate, give up, turn your back on) his self seeking ways and
totally surrender in obedience to God in love (sacrifice of self for
God’s benefit). This is the essence of faith. If man does this, then
God will have mercy and will pardon. What does God pardon? The
condemnation that man is under, which is: “thou shalt surely die
(Gen 2:17).” God promises “life” (2 Tim 1:1, 1 Jn 2:25). Noah
walked in faith and God made a provision to preserve his life. The
whole world was under the condemnation of death, but God is
going to preserve Noah’s life in the midst of His judgment of the
world’s wickedness. The Lord was going to prolong Noah’s days
due to his fear of God and was going to shorten the days of the
wicked (Pv 10:27). This is a perfect foreshadowing of what the
Lord will do at the end of the world. Those who walked in faith will
be preserved unto eternal life in the midst of God’s judgment and
separation of the wicked to the second death known as the lake of
fire. Job 21:30, “That the wicked is reserved to the day of
destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath (also
Job 38:13, Ps 9:17, 37:10, 20, 28, 34, 38, 58:10, 75:8, 10,
104:35, 112:10, 119:119, 129:4, 145:20, Pv 2:22, 10:28, 30,
11:23, 13:9, Eccl 3:17, Jer 6:29, Mt 13:49).” Now consider this
verse: 1 Peter 3:20, “Which sometime were disobedient,
when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah,
while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls
were saved by water.” The Lord God reveals meekness toward
man in forbearing the injuries of man to his righteous character
and deserved glory. Man has greatly dishonored God in taking
from His glory and disregarding His authority. Longsuffering is to
be patient and to bear injuries or provocation (to make angry, to
offend) for a long time. Man provokes God by seeking his lusts
which result in wickedness, evil and violence. Man provokes God
by conforming to the devil’s image of rebellion and great lie and
by rejecting the Lord’s truth. Even so, 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is
not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.” In this case God is not
slack in destroying the wicked with a flood of water, but is
longsuffering that man should come to repentance while the ark is
being constructed. Repentance is a forsaking of the darkness (lie)
and coming to the light (truth). This is to turn around from the
broad way that leads away from God and return to God on the
narrow way. Psalms 145:18-20, “The LORD is nigh unto all them
that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil
the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry,
and will save them. The LORD preserveth all them that love him:
but all the wicked will he destroy (also Ps 25:14, 33:18).” How is
man to love God? The answer is with all of his heart, mind, soul
and strength – the total sacrifice of self for God’s benefit (Mt
22:37, Mk 12:30, Lk 10:27). Jesus related how our love toward
Him is found in our keeping His commandments or obedience to
His will (Jn 5:3, 14:15-17, 20-21, 23, 15:10, 14, 1 John 2:3-4,
3:24, 4:13, 5:2-3).

Noah is 480 years old when God speaks to him of building an ark.
Noah’s sons (Shem, Ham, and Japheth) are yet to born. Genesis
6:22, “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him,
so did he.” Consider the depth of that statement and how much it
reveals about Noah. This statement of Noah’s obedience is what
set him apart from everyone else in the world. This is why Noah
was “just.” This is why Noah was “perfect.” This is how Noah
walked with God. He did what God asked of him – he followed the
Lord’s direction and walked in His way. God commanded Noah to
build an ark with roughly the dimensions of 450 feet long by 75
feet wide by 45 feet tall (with three levels). This was a
tremendous undertaking that would take 120 years to complete.
This will consume Noah’s life – a full time undertaking. There will
be no pleasing of self or thoughts of what “self” wants to do. This
command will require a complete dying to “self” to accomplish the
will of God. This will require total devotion to the will of God –
heart, mind, soul and strength. Noah does not murmur or
complain under such divine direction, but fully obeys (meekness).
Noah “believed” God and this belief was not just so many words,
but action. James 2:17-18, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is
dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I
have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew
thee my faith by my works.” Noah’s faith translated into a daily
exercise (or action) of building the ark of God’s command. James
2:22, “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works
was faith made perfect?” God does not leave Himself without
witness in the world during this 120 years of respite. This work in
progress of building the ark is Noah’s testimony to a completely
lost world and bears witness of God’s impending judgment. 2
Peter 2:5, “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the
eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood
upon the world of the ungodly.” While he built the ark, Noah was
a preacher of righteousness to the ungodly. Moses was a herald of
God’s truth to the onlookers and those who surely came out to
mock and ridicule. This is to denounce wickedness or proclaim
God’s will; to bear messages. A preacher is one who discourses
(communicate thoughts in a formal manner; to converse; to
reason) publicly on the truths of God (His Word) – with
earnestness (zeal). In doing so, Moses was a witness for God in
the midst of a corrupt and wicked mankind. Righteousness is
conformity of heart and life to God’s will (purposes). This is
obedience to God. The ungodly are those who neglect fear and
worship of God. They live contrary to God’s will and do wicked
deeds (transgressing God’s will, evil in principle or practice,
immoral). They are impious, which is irreverent toward God;
lacking in veneration (not in awe or having high regard) of God or
His authority; having contempt and dishonor for God and His will.
Therefore, Moses boldly proclaims the necessity to surrender your
life and obey God to those who live contrary to God’s will and
disregard the Lord’s authority. Unfortunately, Noah did not have
one single convert during this 120 years of preaching
righteousness. Does this mean that Noah was totally ineffective?
No. Noah was just, perfect and walked with God and was the only
man worthy to be saved out of an entire corrupt world (and
Noah’s family by virtue of him, eight people). Noah completely
obeyed God and performed the commandment he was given.
Noah proclaimed God’s truth publicly and his works were visible
for all to see. The fault was in prideful (self exalting) and
rebellious man. The sinful man, who loves the darkness, cannot
understand repentance because it goes against his interest of self.
Those who spend all their time and devotion seeking self can
never understand a message that denies self. God’s message (via
Noah) was as foolishness to them. 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the
preaching of the cross (death to self and surrender to God) is to
them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the
power of God.” The god of this world hath blinded the minds of
them which believe not (with his lie, 2 Cor 4:4). Those who seek
self to the full are totally devoid of God. They say, “Who is the
LORD, that I should obey his voice (Ex 5:2).” The world was set
on self and was far gone from God. The author lives in the most
self seeking, materialistic and worldly nation on earth and
completely understands Noah’s lack of results from his preaching.
The author has written books and articles and talked himself blue
in the face with very little discernable results. We are not talking
about leading someone in some superficial repeated prayer
formula (words). We are talking about a truly changed life of
devotion and commitment to God – heart, mind, soul and
strength (deeds) – a dying of self. Those given over to self and
their way (opinions, sentiments, deeds, etc.) are extremely hard
to reach with a gospel that says you must die to the thing you
love most. Those who love the darkness are least likely to come
to the light (Jn 3:19-21). This is why Christ came to the meek
and not the proud. The meek tend to be the poor and outcast.
These will listen because they are not all puffed up in self.

The Lord’s condemnation is about to fall upon wicked man, but

God made an agreement with faithful Noah to preserve life. Life is
given and sustained by God. Genesis 6:17-18, “And, behold, I,
even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all
flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every
thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish
my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy
sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.” A covenant is
a very solemn (serious) agreement between God and man. God
has made many covenants with man through the ages (via Noah,
Abraham, Moses, etc.). In all cases the agreement between God
and man has been that man will willingly and lovingly surrender in
obedience to the will of God. This is to renounce all rebellion and
come back under God’s authority. In return, God gives mercy,
forgiveness and abundant life. When things are put back into right
order there is a reconciliation between God and man whereby
relationship is renewed. God has always honored His part of these
agreements and man has always broken his part. Man breaks
covenant through disobedience to God and the seeking of self,
which manifests wickedness and evil in a myriad of ways. We are
now under the covenant of Christ – the Lord’s testament (Heb
8:10, 10:16). We are now under the covenant of Christ – the
Lord’s testiment. Man enters into Christ’s covenant by submitting
to Jesus as absolute Lord and agreeing to obey His
commandments. We walk in faith by denying self daily, taking up
the cross (death to self) and following (Mt 16:24, Mk 8:34, 10:21,
Lk 9:23). We must walk as Jesus walked and be conformed to His
image through our obedience to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives
(Col 1:20, 2:6, 3:10, 1 Jn 2:6, 2 Jn 1:6, Lk 6:40, Rm 8:28-29, 2
Cor 3:18, 4:10-11, Gal 3:27, Eph 4:13, 15, Heb 1:3, 13:21). Man
was created in the image of God. Jesus came to earth as a man
and was the brightness of God’s glory, and the express image of
his person (Heb 1:3). Man must conform to Christ’s image which
was well pleasing to the Father. You must lose your life for
Christ’s sake in order to find it (eternally, Mt 10:39, 16:25, Mk
8:35, Lk 9:24, 17:33, Jn 12:25, Rm 8:13, 2 Cor 5:15, Gal 2:20,
Eph 4:24, Col 3:2-3). This is forsaking everything in your life for
Christ (Mt 19:21, Mk 10:21, Lk 14:33, 18:22). If you do not do
these things then you cannot be Christ’s disciple (Lk 14:26-27, Lk
14:33). Most who “profess” Jesus have not understood these
things and either have never truly entered into the covenant or
are continually violating it in disregard for God (as rebellious man
always has). You simply cannot accomplish God’s expectations
unless you are dying to self and allowing the Holy Ghost to lead
you and transform you. “Taking up the cross,” “losing your life,”
and “forsaking all” are just other ways to say “dying to self” and
surrendering to God in total obedience – heart, mind, soul and
strength. The ark represents God’s shelter or refuge from the
coming judgment – His mercy. The Lord God is a refuge to the
faithful in times of trouble (Ps 9:9, 59:16, 62:8, 71:7, 94:22,
142:5, Is 4:6, 25:4, Jer 16:19). God made an agreement with
Noah and his family to enter into His provision for refuge during
the Lord’s utter destruction of the wicked. Genesis 7:1, “And the
LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the
ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.”
Refuge is protection from danger or calamity. Noah fled for refuge
to lay hold upon the hope set before him which was an anchor of
the soul (Heb 6:18-19). God’s refuge is a place where those who
oppose Him cannot enter. Noah could truly say: Psalms 91:2, “I
will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God;
in him will I trust.” AND Psalms 62:7, “In God is my salvation and
my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.”
What man has never understood is: Proverbs 14:26, “In the fear
of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a
place of refuge.” Noah “feared” God and the Lord provided him a
place of refuge (safety and protection). Therefore: Psalms
145:20, “The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the
wicked will he destroy.” Christ is now our hope and refuge and we
must be found in Him. As for the wicked: Ecclesiastes 8:13, “But
it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his
days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before
God.” The wicked did not love God nor surrender to His will in
obedience. They chose their way – the way of self. Their days are
being shortened.

Noah was the most unique man on the face of the earth. Hebrews
11:7, “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.” Everyday that Noah worked on
the ark was one less day the wicked would have upon the face of
the earth. The closer to completion Noah came the closer the day
of condemnation loomed over the entire world. Noah’s love and
commitment to God actually sealed the fate of those who were
opposed to God. Now consider Noah’s faith. Faith bypasses the
understanding of the flesh and actually requires a denial of the
flesh’s reasoning. Man disobeyed God to seek the flesh and the
Lord will surely not be approached by man through the flesh
which is at great enmity (hostility, hatred) with Him (Gal 5:17).
Romans 8:7, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for
it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Without
faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). As we have
discussed, the flesh always seeks its way or good and thus denies
God’s way. What the flesh desires is completely opposite of what
God demands. Romans 8:8, “So then they that are in the flesh
cannot please God.” Romans 8:6, “For to be carnally minded is
death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” So, those
seeking and minding the things of the flesh (self) are approaching
the day of destruction (death). However, Noah is very busy
minding the things of God (the Spirit) and he will be preserved
and have peace with God. Isaiah 48:22, “There is no peace, saith
the LORD, unto the wicked (also Is 57:21).” Noah reached beyond
the flesh’s reasoning and dictates (denying it) and believed God’s
Word even though there was no evidence to prove what the Lord
had said. Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Noah’s belief was
backed up by his actions. Everyday for over a 120 years Noah and
his family were undergoing hard labor in selfless devotion to
complete God’s task. No doubt, that everyday Noah faced the
mocking, ridicule and persecution from all the wicked peoples
around him. Noah must have been the laughing stock (fool,
clown, butt of all jokes) or gazingstock (object of ridicule, Heb
10:33) of the world. God calls his people out of the world (the
church is the ekklesia, meaning called out ones) to be a peculiar
people (Ex 19:5, Deut 14:2, 26:18, Ps 135:4, Ti 2:14, 1 Pt 2:9).
Those who are the Lord’s will always stand out and be very
different from those around them – just consider the prophets,
John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Noah patiently endured the
world’s criticism in order to obtain God’s promise (Heb 6:15). The
opening scripture to this paragraph stated that Noah’s
righteousness was by faith. Righteousness is conformity of heart
and life to God’s will. This is accomplished through faith which is
love, surrender and obedience to God. Noah’s faith saved him,
and the world’s unbelief and self seeking condemned them.

The Lord gave Noah the blueprint for building the ark. How could
Noah have otherwise anticipated the unknown forces that would
act upon this vessel in a never before experience cataclysmic
event ofimmeasurable proportions? How could Noah have known
how many animals would need shelter and the required provision?
All of this was completely beyond the flesh’s understanding or
ability to determine. Noah completely relied upon God for daily
direction – Noah walked with God. This undertaking required
complete trust and obedience to God’s direction. This task
absolutely could not have been completed apart from a walk of
faith. Although Noah had a general idea of what lay ahead, there
was no way he could have known all the details. His trust and
faith had to be in the Lord and not the flesh. Similarly, we must
trust and explicitly obey the Lord everyday. We must walk blindly
to this world and flesh and be led about by the Holy Ghost. 2
Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” This is
saying that we are not guided by our flesh, but rather by our walk
with the Lord through surrender and obedience to His direction.
Romans 8:5, 14, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the
things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of
the Spirit. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are
the sons of God.” Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit,
saith the LORD (Zech 4:6). Our place is only to follow and obey,
the Lord will do the rest. The flesh has no place on God’s narrow
way. Man must learn: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh
profiteth nothing (Jn 6:63).” Romans 8:12-13, “Therefore,
brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the
Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Noah was
not to determine how the ark would be constructed through his
deeds, but only to obediently follow God’s direction. God wants
your obedience and not your interference. Whenever you attempt
to do the leading, the flesh exalts itself above God. The Lord has
clearly stated: 1 Corinthians 1:29, “That no flesh should glory in
his presence.” The flesh always wants its way and not God’s way.

Once the ark was completed and stocked with all types of food
that may be eaten (Gen 6:21), there was one more task to
perform. Genesis 6:19-20, “And of every living thing of all flesh,
two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive
with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their
kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the
earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to
keep them alive.” AND Genesis 7:2-5, “Of every clean beast thou
shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of
beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of
fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep
seed alive upon the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and
I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights;
and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from
off the face of the earth. And Noah did according unto all that the
LORD commanded him.” Comprehend the depth of this
statement: Noah did according to all the Lord commanded him!
Oh what an epitaph (an inscription in memory of the dead) or
remembrance this would make at the end of a life lived. The
author wants nothing more than to have this genuinely said about
him. How about you dear reader? There will be nothing more
important on that day than to hear Christ say, “Well done good
and faithful servant” (Mt 25:21, 23) or perhaps “I am well
pleased” (Heb 11:5). This one statement from God will make any
sacrifice, persecution, dying to self, and forsaking of all
completely worthwhile! Nothing this world has to offer or that the
flesh desires should ever deter you from doing all the the Lord
commands. Noah was faithful to God in the midst of an entire
world that wasn’t! The Lord God was honored by Noah’s stance
against a wicked and rebellious world. Dear reader,
you must serve God with your whole heart even when no one else
around you will. Everyone will try and pull you away, but you
must stand strong and be the bright light that brings God glory.
God is longsuffering, but the day of judgment does come. Psalms
7:9-10, “Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but
establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and
reins. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.”
The Lord has made provision and refuge for just and upright Noah
and the end has now come. Genesis 7:11-16, “In the six
hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the
seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the
fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of
heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days
and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem,
and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and
the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; They, and
every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and
every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind,
and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. And they
went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein
is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and
female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD
shut him in.” Noah was faithful to God who chose him (Heb 3:2).
He walked in God’s ways and completed the task given him. All
things were performed as God commanded and the Lord Himself
shut them in the ark. Notice that it rained forty days and forty
nights. Forty is the number for bearing iniquity. Moses fasted
forty days and forty nights on two occasions bearing the reproach
of the people (Ex 24:18, 34:28, Deut 9:9, 18, 25, 10:10, Ps
105:23). Punishment was never to exceed forty stripes (Deut
25:3). The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness forty
years (a year for each day the spies searched the promised land,
Num 13:25) bearing their iniquities (Num 14:33-34, 32:13).
When Israel transgressed God’s will they were given into the
hands of their enemies. When they repented God would send a
deliverer and afterwards the land often had rest for forty years
(Jdg 3:11, 5:31, 8:28). Goliath presented himself forty days
reproaching Israel (1 Sam 17:16). Elijah fasted for forty days (1
Kg 19:8). Ezekiel lay on his right side for forty days to bear the
iniquity of Judah (Ez 4:6). The Lord gave Ninevah fortys days to
repent of their iniquity (Jonah 3:4). Jesus fasted for forty days
and forty nights (Mt 4:2, Mk 1:13).

God destroys the wicked, but preserves the righteous. Genesis

7:17-23, “And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the
waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above
the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly
upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the
high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains
were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both
of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing
that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose
nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.
And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the
face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things,
and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the
earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him
in the ark.” Man erred greatly in his heart by seeking “self” – for
they did not know God’s ways (Heb 3:10). They had evil hearts of
unbelief and departed from the living God and were hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin (Heb 3:12-13). Noah’s message
of 120 years which had to be received through faith was suddenly
realized by men in their flesh. Those who lived for the flesh
suddenly realized in the flesh (that which can be perceived
through the senses) that God’s Word was truth and His judgment
was falling (in the form of rain) upon them. Oh how they must
have cried out to Noah in fear of the penalty for their
transgression. However, the ark was now shut and the time for
calling out to God was over. God is looking for those who willingly
serve him in love and obedience, not for those who are desperate
to avoid the penalty brought about due to their disregard and
hate of Him. They certainly did not want to perish, yet they had
no genuine love for God or reverence for His ways. They only
continue to seek the welfare of “self” by soliciting pardon from the
consequence of their wicked deeds. This will be the situation for
multitudes before God at the Great Judgment. When you die to
self, it is no longer you that lives, but the will of God in you
(Jesus in you, 1 Pt 2:24, 4:2, Gal 2:20, 2 Cor 5:15). 1 Peter 4:2,
“That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to
the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” Everything dies, but
Noah and they that are with Him in the ark. Noah’s faith saves
him. Noah’s obedience to God results in life! The wicked’s
disobedience to God results in death. Those that die to self and
live for God find their life. Those that live for self and die to God
lose their life.
Conclusion

The Lord God has warned man that the end of all things is
looming and will come suddenly and unexpectedly as a thief in the
night (1 Thess 5:2, 2 Pt 3:10 Rev 16:15). Jesus said: Matthew
24:38-39, “For as in the days that were before the flood they
were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until
the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the
flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of
the Son of man be (also Lk 17:26).” In Noah’s day, all the wicked
world was going about seeking its own way. The flesh is only
concerned about its needs, desires and lusts – what it can
perceive. Those in the flesh cannot look beyond self. They did not
regard God nor seek His ways. Noah was a great witness for the
Lord and the ark represented God’s approaching judgment. No
one heeded what Noah had to say. They assumed things would
proceed as they always had. Their last day was as any other.
Wicked man was seeking his needs and desires, while Noah had
just completed God’s task. Sudden destruction came and took the
wicked away. Jesus has stated: Revelation 22:12, “And, behold, I
come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every
man according as his work shall be.” The world of today is no
different than the world of Noah’s day. Man rebelliously seeks self
foremost with disregard for God. Many will “profess” Christ and
claim His mercy and forgiveness as long as they can believe the
Lord’s grace is their license to continue to seek self and the things
of the world. These just want to seize Christ’s inheritance (Mt
21:38); they have no love (sacrifice of self for the Lord) for God
or desire to surrender to His purposes. The vast majority of these
want nothing to do with sacrifice, dying to self, surrendering to
God’s will and daily obedience. These things would restrict the
“self” they love most. These love the darkness and will not come
to the light (Jn 3:19-21). Christ said of them: John 5:40, “And ye
will not come to me, that ye might have life.” They want to
profess Jesus while remaining in the darkness and only desire a
covering of Christ’s sacrifice such they may continue to seek their
own way and be free of the penalty for doing such. They offer no
real personal sacrifice or commitment. In other words they want
to walk as Satan walked, yet “not surely die.” They are concerned
with absolution from the penalty only (discussed below). Where is
the love for God (sacrifice of self)? Christ’s walk was great as long
as it was only Him that was doing it. They do not want to walk as
Jesus walked nor conform to His image (Ps 119:3, 128:1, Hos
14:9, 1 Thess 2:12, Col 1:20, 2:6, 3:10, 1 Jn 2:6, 2 Jn 1:6, Lk
6:40, Rm 8:28-29, 2 Cor 3:18, 4:10-11, Gal 3:27, Eph 4:13, 15,
Heb 13:21). However, they will be delighted to conform Christ to
their image – one that loves the things of the world; the lust of
the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 Jn
2:15-17). These seek their lusts daily through entertainment
(television, sports, magazines, video games, hobbies, collections,
movies, books, etc.), careers, activities and personal lusts. They
fill their hearts and minds with filth and take pleasure in
unrighteousness (but do not walk in God’s truth) and then think
they are righteous before God because the “profess” Christ (2
Thess 2:12). However, the Jesus they “profess” is not foremost in
their lives or their thoughts. We are told: 2 Corinthians 10:5,
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth
itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ.” Like in the days of
Noah, these go about exalting imaginations and every high thing
against God (altars to self, idolatry, lusts, etc.) and casting down
the knowledge of God and walk in disobedience to Christ. Every
imagination of the thoughts of their hearts are only evil
continually – set on “self.” Since the fear of the Lord is the
beginning of knowledge (Pv 1:7, 9:10), these cast aside the fear
of God (which is faith). They do not surrender to God nor obey
Him, but rather walk in their own way (with maybe a form of
godliness). Most live just like the wicked of Noah’s day – maybe
with a presumed covering of Christ (blindness and deception).
They live in Statan’s lie and rebellion by seeking self in their own
authority (ye shall be as gods, Gen 3:5), yet believe they have
life (ye shall not surely die, Gen 3:4). God loves righteousness
and hates iniquity (Heb 1:9). Psalms 11:7, “For the righteous
LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the
upright.” AND Psalms 147:11, “The LORD taketh pleasure in them
that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”

You must decide in which your life is truly found. The end of all
things is looming. The day of condemnation is coming – thou shalt
surely die (Gen 2:17). Just like in the days of Noah, these will find
out that only the ones who actually do the will of God will be
preserved (Mt 7:21, 12:50, Mk 3:35, Lk 11:28. 1 John 2:17, “And
the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth
the will of God abideth for ever.” Jesus further stated: Matthew
7:24-25, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine,
and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his
house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for
it was founded upon a rock. Notice that the floods came, yet he
that doeth Christ’s Words is preserved. “Doeth” is an action word
and requires something of you. Noah walked in daily faith (love,
surrender and obedience) to God and this was his righteousness.
Through our faith, we are justified by God’s grace which is the
renewing brought about by the Holy Ghost (Ti 3:5-7). Through
Christ, the Holy Ghost is shed on us abundantly to work through
our faith to conform us to His image or likeness (Acts 2:33, Ti
3:5-6). We receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Gal
3:14, Acts 5:32). The just shall live by faith (Hab 2:4, Rm 1:17,
Gal 3:11, Heb 10:38). Noah was “just” and lived by faith as
demonstrated through his construction of the ark. Those who walk
in faith must be careful to never draw back (looking back) or God
will have no pleasure in them and they will not be fit for the
kingdom of God (Lk 9:62, Heb 10:38).

This is extremely important to understand: Most who “profess”

Christ have made him a minister of sin (Gal 2:17). The
predominate practices and lifestyles of most who profess Christ
are Satanic. They believe (in so many religious words or doctrinal
teachings) that Christ’s sacrifice allows them to be able to seek
“self” and transgress God’s will without having to pay the penalty.
Recall from the lead-in to this lesson that: The devil was telling
man he could seek “self” and transgress God’s will without having
to pay the penalty. These two positions are one in the same. Do
you think that Jesus came to bolster, defend and lend credibility
to the devil’s lie? Many worship “another” Jesus who is actually
Satan (2 Cor 11:4). Please consider this very thoughtfully: The
devil said that you could transgress the will of God and “ye shall
not surely die.” The predominate religious message says that you
can transgress the will of God and “ye shall not surely die.” The
two equate! Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, that
being his lie (1 Jn 3:8). Most are following the devil in the name
of Jesus. They have twisted Christ into something He is not. Jesus
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity
(the darkness, Ti 2:14, 1 Pt 2:9, 1 Jn 3:3-5), but most want to
stay therein (Jn 3:19). To be conformed to the image of Christ is
to die to self and follow Him walking as He walked (seeking God’s
will). To be conformed to the image of the devil is to live for
self and follow him walking as he walked (seeking his own will).
The two ways go in different directions. The path to life is very
narrow and few find it (Mt 7:14). The path to death is very broad
and many travel it (Mt 7:13). One way is truth and the other way
is a lie. One way is light and the other way is darkness. One leads
toward God and the other leads away. Under no circumstances
can you continue to transgress God’s will in seeking your own and
still maintain faith in Christ. This is a false faith that will end in
condemnation. The GREAT LIE: you can transgress God’s will
(commandments) and “ye shall not surely die.” This is seeking
self which is always a disregard for God. GOD’S CONDEMNATION:
if you transgress the will of God, “thou shalt surely die.” ETERNAL
TRUTH: Life is only found in submission and obedience to God.
The only one that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven is he
that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. FAITH: you
must willingly and lovingly surrender “self” in obedience to the will
(commandments) of God. You must forsake the darkness (the
devil’s lie) and come into the light (God’s truth). GOD’S GRACE:
Jesus sacrificed “self” to redeem you from all iniquity (darkness)
and provide forgiveness. Jesus sent the Holy Ghost to teach and
lead you and thus tear down “self” to conform you to His image.
SALVATION: Your faith procures God’s grace. Your surrender and
obedience to the Lord’s Spirit working in you destroys the things
of “self” such that you love God with all your heart, mind, soul
and strength and your neighbor as yourself. Your obedience to the
Holy Spirit’s workings destroys all the things that exalt
themselves against God in your life. Thus God’s purposes are
fulfilled in you. These are the ones that will dwell with God
through eternity. The relationship between God and man must be
restored. Jesus gave His life for you. Relationships are reciprocal.
You must now give your life to Christ. Notice that Jesus loved you
– He sacrificed self for your benefit. Now you must love Jesus:
John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” You
sacrifice self to obey Christ’s commandments for His benefit.
Jesus became the author of eternal salvation unto all them
that obey Him (Heb 5:9, Jn 14:6). When you understand Christ’s
commandments, you will see that there is no way to keep them
without dying to self (Mt 22:37-39, Mk 12:30-31, Lk 10:27). The
only way to achieve unity is for each individual in the relationship
to sacrifice self for the others benefit. Jesus did sacrifice self for
your benefit, now you must sacrifice self for Him. If you seek
“self” then unity with Christ will never be achieved and you will
not be found in Him. To seek “self” is to diverge from unity and be
separate. Therefore: Jesus denied self, was filled with the Holy
Spirit and walked a path of total obedience to God which led back
to God. Jesus provided you with forgiveness and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus says, “Come follow Me.” You must now deny self, be filled
with the Holy Spirit and walk Christ’s path in obedience as led by
His Spirit – all the way back to God. The faith (surrender and
obedience) is from you and the grace (forgiveness and Holy
Spirit) is from God. Your faith is your only righteousness, so you
must walk therein.

Malachi 4:1, “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an
oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be
stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the
LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.”
The proud exalt self and thus do wickedly. Just as assuredly the
wicked drowned in the flood in Noah’s day, the wicked shall burn
in fire in the day of the Lord.

Concluding Thought

God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time
for every purpose and for every work (Eccl 3:17). Ecclesiastes
9:12, “For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are
taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare;
so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth
suddenly upon them.” Walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the
sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God
will bring thee into judgment (Eccl 11:9). Ecclesiastes 12:13-14,
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and
keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For
God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret
thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”