Lesson 4: Sanctification
The Ark speaks to us…SANCTIFICATION. As I have said previously that people love to do what they wanted to regardless God, regardless other people regardless of rules nor regulations nor right and wrong, as far as I like it and I’ll do it and I’ll take it. Super self-centeredness off the track results in heading for tragedy of no return.
As in Noah’s time, the Bible in essence points out two substantial sins – sex and violence, which are two most popularity in human. They happen everywhere in every generation. And indeed, they truly reflect our human nature. First social popularity in Noah’s time was violence. “There were Nephilim [men of stature, notorious men] on the earth in those days—and also afterward…These were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown [great reputation, fame].” (Genesis 6:4, Amplified Bible). The Amplified Bible version noted that they were mighty, strong and powerful guys, 6’8” muscle men alike. They were famous but were men of notorious. Perhaps you could imagine how these people settled disputes at that time. How they solved problems and conflicts. First popularity in Noah’s time was violence. The second one was sex. Ah…Sex. The Bible says: When people saw beautiful women, movie stars like face and figure, and they married any of them they chose and desired (Genesis 6:2). Casual sex became a social practice. Marital chaos was common. It twisted God’s design in marriage. It destroyed family. It broke social system. It violated God’s will. It hurt God. It made God grief, pain and sorrow.
Again, Richard Foster’s book Money, Sex, Power did have mentioned biblical principles that enables us to live out a relevant and authentic response to sex of our age. Living in the sex saturated era, and in order not to repeat the same sin in Noah’s time, we Christians should alert it and stand on biblical truth to live rightly in respect of sex.
God’s Word is always true and never changes. In fact, it is God who created sex. Sex is a sacred gift of our loving Creator. The Bible says sex is only for marriage – one man and one woman for life. And actually God could have made human reproduction with no pleasure attached to it. But God created we human having nerve endings to enjoy sex. Sex brings emotional commitment between husband and wife. It was God created it to bond a husband and wife together. There is no such casual sex, otherwise, it will bring people hurt, broken hearts and bothering mind.
Sex is strictly in the marriage. It is an intimate relationship between husband and wife. It is not just physical. God designed sex to brings husband and wife together, and it carries a deeper meaning of the union between Jesus Christ (The Groom) and the Church (The Bride). Sex has a spiritual implication. So that’s why the Church should be holy because Jesus Christ is holy. “Marriage is to be held in honour among all [that is, regarded as something of great value], and the marriage bed undefiled [by immorality or by any sexual sin]; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4, Amplified Bible). God says: “Don’t confuse marriage.” It’s God original design which surpasses all ethnics, cultures, traditions and timings. God designed human body parts of a man and a woman fit together. Here is what Jesus says about marriage, “At the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6). Sex is for a man and a woman who have made a commitment of marriage to each other. Sex closely tied with marriage. It is strictly within marriage. It is God’s original design. Regardless of the social popularity, regardless of the social promotion, regardless of the majority practice, we honour God’s original design in sex and marriage, because we believe that God loves us the best. The Church (that is, we Jesus’ followers) should be holy waiting for one day The Groom will come back.
We recap Noah. The Ark speaks Sanctification. Noah kept holy in his marriage. He has one single wife and no more. The Bible says he was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. This is the key: walk with God, keep close to Him. He lived holy in such sexual confused world. He found favour in the eyes of God. The Ark speaks: Sanctification – live a holy life in an immoral world is never easy. The Ark encourages us to keep ourselves (The Church) as The Bride holy waiting boldly to welcome the coming Groom Jesus Christ someday in future. May The Holy God grant us faith and strength to stand on His Word in the world. Amen.