Devotions by Ralph Chambers

SAFETY IN THE COMING STORM

It is said of two (Noah & Enoch) antediluvians, (those who lived before the flood), that they "walked with God".

• Genesis. 5:24 tells us that Enoch walked with God and he was not; for God took him.

Can you imagine what it would be like on day to be going about your daily affairs and just walk right into heaven?

Genesis. 6:9 tells us that Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Genesis. 6:11,12 tells us "And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man

• (Genesis. 6:3), 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 and it repented God that He had made man on the earth and it grieved Him at His heart.

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. BUT Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Genesis. 6:13-14 tells us God said unto Noah "make thee an ark of gopher wood, (research tells me this is cypress wood), rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. Research also tells me that God was saying "Noah, smear and cover over this ark inside and outside with a tar-like substance, making it water-proof. The dictionary says that pitch is used for covering seams of vessels. The Bible also tells us that as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew. 24:31 (this entire chapter of Matthew tells about the great tribulation and the Second Coming of Christ for His Church).

Noah, preserved thru the flood, is a type of the Israelitish people who will be preserved thru the tribulation. Enoch, who was translated to Heaven before the judgment of the Flood, is a type of the Church (Body of born-again believers) who will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) The word "pitch" in Genesis. 6:14 is the same word translated "atonement" in Leviticus. 17:11. It is atonement that keeps out the waters of judgment. "Ark" is a type of Christ as the refuge of His people from judgment. Christ has become our Ark of safety, our Atonement, making us "at-one" with God, or righteous before God.

God warned those in the antediluvian world of coming judgment. Noah preached about it 120 years. Only eight people believed and entered into the ark of safety. God's preachers of righteousness have been warning for many more years of another judgment that all must face either in death or at the Second Coming of Christ. The door of salvation is still open. The Bible tells us that TODAY is the day of salvation. All have sinned, the wages of sin is death (eternal separation from God). Whosoever will, may come and drink of the waters of life freely. Christ is the Way, the Truth, the Life, - OUR ARK OF SAFETY IN THE COMING STORM OF JUDGMENT.

April 30, 1975

HOW SOLID IS YOUR FOUNDATION?

A short man wanted to drive a nail into a wall to carry a big picture. He stood on a chair, but he was not high enough. His wife put a small box on and that was not sufficient, yet another, and balancing himself precariously, he began to give the nail a hesitating tap with the hammer. His wife said, "Why don't you give it a brave blow and settle it?" He replied, "How can a man give a brave blow or two when he is standing on a foundation like this?"

A firm foundation is a necessity for the delivering of smashing blows. Only those standing on a firm foundation of certainty can deliver strong blows. Some of our young people are coming out of high school and many of them will attempt to face the problems of life with no more preparation than their high school diploma. All too soon they will discover that hard blows at the problems of life cannot be delivered from such inadequate preparation and will need to seek additional preparation through college or other training school. But, with all of the intellectual training available, they will discover their foundation is still shaky.

To be able to deliver telling blows at the problems of life and to have a sense of certainty about our destiny, we need firm faith and commitment to Christ. Paul was able to say, "I know in Whom I have believed and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against (or until ) that day" (the day of judgment). Any uncertainty about our Holy Faith that gives life a worthwhile purpose and destiny, is bound to lead to uncertainty, confusion and weakness.
Build your life on a definite and complete commitment to Christ and your life will be complete and satisfying and like the apostle, Paul, you to can say, "Thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ".

May 27, 1969

THE STREAM OF LIFE

Looking at one of the rivers or streams of our land as they sweep with power and purpose toward the sea, it is hard to visualize the many little tributaries that have contributed their little bit to its mighty volume or the humble beginning it had. If we were to follow that river to its source, we would find that it either started as a tiny trickle from a mountain spring or as the runoff from a small water-shed.

The waters of its source might be pure and free of all pollution or it might begin its journey laden with death-dealing germs. Its tributaries may contribute pollutants to spoil its purity. Obstacles or forces may impede or impel it on its journey to the sea to deposit its load of life or death in the sea.
Our life is like that river or stream. It gets its start in that basic unit of society, the home. If that home is saturated with the Spirit and teachings of Christ, our children will start their journey through life with qualities of life that will bless their generation. If our life gets its start in homes where sin reigns, then our life may prove to be a detriment to society.

Of course, what we permit to enter our life can either pollute it with sin or if it be the grace of God through Christ, can cleanse and purify it.

Obstacles of the flesh, the world, and the devil may impede our spiritual growth or the presence and power of the Holy Spirit may impel us onto Christian perfection. Eventually we will all arrive at the Sea of Eternity and there deposit our life whether it be good or bad.

Since the home is the source and the primary molding influence of the lives of our manhood and womanhood, how important it is that we keep our homes a place of love and understanding where the Spirit and teachings of Christ prevail in all of our family life and the life we live with our neighbors.

Is your family life building a Christian faith and hope in your child or children?

May 1, 1970

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