A great hymn of assurance, “A
Shelter in the Time of Storm”, is given to us by Vernon Charlesworth. Picture Noah and his family singing this hymn
during the 40 days and nights of the deluge.
Verse three of the hymn begins, “The raging storms may round us
beat”. Think of being in that ark when
outside all was dark except for the streaks of lightning. The thunder beat a steady bass drum of
dread. Rain cascaded on the roof of the
pitching vessel while the winds howled out God’s fury against the wickedness of
man. Inside that fragile retreat of the
ark sat the surviving members of the human race along with all the animals to
repopulate the earth. In this picture we find a great scene of grace.
We have two cats and a dog at our
house. Cleaning up after them helps me
understand why our landfills are so full.
Noah had two of everything and at least seven of all clean animals.
Every farmer knows how much work it is to clean the stables and barns. There were only eight people on the ark to
take care of the vast needs. How did
they do it? They did it by grace. God had to have done something miraculous to
make it possible. He had given them a
great load to bear and His grace must have intervened to make them succeed in
bearing it. The ark was their means of
safety. God would care for them in
it.
The cross is our means of
safety. Jesus asks us to bear that
cross. It is a weight that we cannot
bear on our own. It is too heavy for us. Jesus said that He would bear it with
us. His word tells us that His grace is
sufficient for us in doing His will. We
could not survive the storms of this life bearing the cross of Jesus Christ
without grace. God’s grace preserved
Noah and his family. The miracle of His
grace superseded the impossibility of their position. Today it is the same. God’s preserving grace carries us every
day. His manifest grace overcomes what
cannot be done by human means.
Knowing and understanding this great
grace helps us confidently sing, “The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide – a shelter
in the time of storm; secure whatever ill betide – a shelter in the time of
storm.” Praise the Rock today. Thank Him for His great preserving grace.
The
Friday Benediction
Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop
you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in
the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be
enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend. Amen
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