Lesson 1: Sin

Why The Ark?  This is the first word pop up in mind.  Why The Ark?  Was it necessary?  What was the reason?  Or what was the purpose?  Obviously, the Bible is self-explanatory.  

Why The Ark?  Why?  Because of human SIN.  To be honest, sin is our old friend or per sec close friend, be with us all the way.  We befriend with sin since we born or even before we born and when we were still in the mother’s womb.  King David says this, “Indeed, I was born guilty.  I was a sinner when my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)”  The verse corrects most of our thoughts that “I sin so I am a sinner.”  No.  The Bible says the other way, “I am a sinner so I sin.”  The root of committing sin is I am a sinner in nature.  The sinful nature rooted deep inside bears fruit of sinful behaviour outside.  Sinful root bears sinful fruit, that’s simple to understand.

Then what sin was in Noah’s time?  The Bible points out two charges to man.  First, people didn’t fear God.  They lived without God, as if God didn’t exist.  They didn’t think God can do anything to them.  Second is people didn’t obey rules.  They lived without any rule, as if rules didn’t exist.  They did what they wanted to do.  The Bible says when sons of God saw that the daughter of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.  What was the Noah’s time?  You do yours and I do mine without any rules nor consequences.  People sinned against God; and people sinned against man.  The Bible says, “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.”  The adjectives get our attention: great wickedness, every inclination of the thoughts is only evil [that is, even without a bit good, mercy or generous etc.] and all the time.  The world was so evil and wicked to the point of no return.  It was beyond cure.

What’s God’s feeling then?  “God was grieved….and His heart was filled with pain.” (Gen 6:6).  How God responded this?  He made a painful decision.  “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth,,, and animals.” (Gen 6:7).  It was a warning.  Sin is not without consequences.  Sin brings judgement.  Is it fair?  Even though people have not received corresponding punishment under human law.  Sin brings God’s judgement.  No one can escape from it.  The whole world in Noah’s time was going to ripe what they’d sown.  The earth was getting doom.

Was this the total end of the world?  No.  God has mercy in His judgement.  Thanks be to God in v.8 began with a little word “But.”  It was a focal point turning from no hope to see a glimpse of light.  “But Noah found favour in the eyes of The Lord.”  God has mercy even in His severe judgement.  This word “But” grants us hope.  Even our life is messy, we now reap what we’ve sowed in the past or we are innocent victims of other people’s sin, or whatever.  Before God’s judgement come, The Ark pointed out sin.  The Ark yelled to the world with a strong message: Repent, sin no more.  On the other hand, The Ark offered a way out of God’s saving grace.  Friends, open our eyes to see the world, to search our hearts and to meditate what’s going on in your life.  Be wise, learn lesson from it.  We are indeed in Noah’s time.  I pray to God grant us His eyes and wisdom to see our life and what the real need of today’s world.  Amen.