Over the weekend, I went to the RBC Members Open Day with my better half. After browsing through some books, the agenda continued with 2 sessions of message from a Pastor Sim (I think) from Singapore.
We had a good and refreshing time, not to mention lots of fun and laughter during the 2 sessions. Here's a brief summary from the first session:
Sermon taken from Genesis 6-8: The Noah Story
For some reason, this is a passage rarely preached on the pulpit. Most of us remember this passage from our Sunday School days. However, little did I realize that the historical events that took place almost 4000 years ago relates to the End of Days, when Christ will come again. In Noah's time, God NEARLY annihilated the earth, cleanse it from evil and terror, save Noah's family of 8(including himself). The Bible spoke of Noah as a "righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." These 3 character was what set him apart(incidentally, to be set apart = holy) from the rest of the world that was destined to destruction.
Noah was a righteous man. Meaning that he did what was right in the eyes of God, not following the practices of the world around him
Noah was blameless among the people of his time. Meaning that the people around him recognizes that he does no evil (even though they may think of him as a complete nutcase when he was building the ark).
Noah walked with God. Meaning that he spent time with God, in God's holy presence. Knowing the heart of God, perhaps to a very intimate level. I mean, you don't just go walking with someone you're not comfortable with everyday.
In Noah's days, God cleanse the earth by water.
However, with Christ's coming on judgment day, the book of Revelations tells of an end for those who are not in the book of Life will be by fire.
Some interesting research on the ark Noah built could be found here: http://www.genesisfiles.com/NoahsArk.htm
The second session was an interesting piece based on the book of Job
Sermon taken from Job 38-41: God's Answer to Suffering
In a nutshell, Job was a righteous man after God, blessed with many good things...until it was ALL taken from Him in a flash. The 3 most important things that most of us could identify with, Family, Health and Wealth. When Job cried out to God, complained and sighed, God finally responded in chapter 38. God was also rather long winded in His respond(least my other half complain I am always long winded). But contrary to what most of us would do, God DID NOT comfort Job by explaining Himself, or the reason behind Job's sufferings. Instead, God answer Job's questions with many many more questions. Scholars counted it to 77 questions. I'm not verified that, but if you have, please leave me a comment to let me know. It really baffles my mind and touched me heart the way God dealt with Job. When Job sobbed to God about his pains, God gave him something else to consider.
Just some extracts from what God asked:
* Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? (Job 38: 4)* Who marked off its dimensions? (Job 38: 5)
*Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? (Job 38: 32)
* Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane? (Job 39: 19)
* Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread his wings toward the south? (Job 39: 26)
God in His wisdom allows us to go through suffering for our own sake. When we consider how Great and Big our God is, our sights are set straight. Only then can we see things from God's view. We may never understand sufferings or the reasons behind them. But we can trust that our God, the God who formed the earth millions of years ago is the same God who loves and cares for us as our earthly parents does.
My goodness, I don't dare imagine God answering me when I ask him my own silly and trivial questions!!
Indeed, where was I when He formed the heavens and the earth?
A good question to ponder as I bid you goodbye and God bless...
Dave D Saved
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