Scenes of Grace 4

Today we move on to Genesis chapter 6.  It is not that there are no scenes of grace in chapters 4 and 5, but we could never record all the scenes of grace in the Scriptures.  Chapter 6 reveals a situation of great need and a provision of great grace.  Genesis 6:5 says, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth.”  Philip Bliss’s great Gospel song “The Light of the World is Jesus” describes the scene in Genesis 6.  He wrote, “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin.” Chapter 6 also records God’s great grace in the face of this great darkness.  In chapter 6 we find this wonderful verse, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”  

Humanity was corrupt before God.  God said of mankind, “that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  In consequence of this great sinful condition God was about to destroy humanity.  The wages of sin is indeed death.  “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”  When judgment was determined, God provided an escape from judgment through grace.  Grace is unmerited, so there is no means by human reasoning why God gave grace to Noah.  Noah responded to God’s grace with faith.  He said yes to God’s offer of grace and then obeyed God in building the ark.  The result was that Noah and all of his family was saved from destruction. 

Noah’s Ark became the means of their salvation.  They got inside of it and were spared from the wrath of God.  In the same way Jesus Christ is our ark of salvation.  We believe in Him and are placed “in” Him by God the Father.  Now all those who have placed their faith in Him are safe from the anger of God against sin.  It is still the work of grace which is responded to with faith.  God’s system has not changed.  God gives grace which brings us to faith and leads us to safety in the ark of God’s preservation. 

Philip Bliss told of the darkness of the world in sin.  That darkness led to man’s judgment and death.  But God sent Light to shine into our darkness so that we could see His grace and be saved.  As Noah in obedience built the ark, today we are come to the Light for our salvation.  “Come to the Light, ‘tis shining for thee; sweetly the Light has dawned upon me.  Once I was blind, but now I can see; the Light of the world is Jesus.”  Rejoice in God’s grace of Light and life, Jesus Christ.