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            As the return of Christ approaches, it is more important than ever to be in a spiritually safe position of trust on the Blood of Christ—and remaining in that position no matter what we are going through or how we are tested.  1 John 5:4-5 “Every child of God overcomes the world; and the victorious principle which has overcome the world is our faith”—keeping our trust on the Blood of Christ for—everything includes divine guidance, divine healing, protection, provisions, peace in our home, etc.

            Noah was a preacher of righteousness—teaching others to have faith in God and to obey His Word.  The Ark represents faith in God and obedience to His Word for protection, but the world stands for no trust on God, and disobeying His Word to destruction.  Everyone has a choice of two—to live by faith in the Lord, or to live by sight like the world.

            A huge majority has always disobeyed God.  The apostle says 1 Peter 3:20-21 “God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.  In it only a few people, eight [souls] in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you”—if you or anyone continue to trust God in faith on the merit value of the Blood.

            The false doctrine of once saved; always saved, gives a false sense of security—teaching that it is impossible to leave a place of safety in Christ—but it is possible, and it does happen.  That false doctrine is commonly taught, heard, and accepted. 

            A minister Titus 1:9 “must hold firmly to the [faithful word] as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”  Deceitful messages are everywhere today.  Jesus warned John 15:6 “If anyone does not remain [abide; continue] in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” 

            Millions who profess faith in God, are not abiding in Christ, because they are not trusting in the Blood He shed for them.  Instead, they seek medication for relief; lay up treasure on earth for financial security; avenge wrongs by suing persecutors; and put insurance coverage on everything for protection from financial loss.

            Millions speak of faith, but do not live by faith—in God.  James 2:26 “Faith is lifeless if it is unaccompanied by obedience.”  There was one door into the Ark—and there is one way into Heaven—by an enduring faith in the Blood of Christ.  John 10:9 “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,” because “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12.

            We are warned—Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets;” Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked;” 1 John 5:21 “Keep yourselves from idols;” Matthew 12:50 “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”  Hebrews 3:14 “We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.”

            Seventeen sins of the flesh will dissolve our faith in Christ—Galatians 5:19-21 “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like—those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Not many are listening and even less are repenting.

            Multitudes think they are unsinkable, because they once had faith in God.  They believe they are eternally secure—no matter what sin, wrong-doing, or unbelief they have fallen into later on in life.  We are saved and safe and keptonly if we have confessed our sins; truly repented; and have forsaken those sins by God’s help.

            End times signs are seen—“children shall rise up against their parents” Matthew 10:21-22 “ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” A day of God’s judgment is fast approaching Matthew 24:21 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”  Noah saw the same unbelief and rebellion in his day.

            The only safe position is being under the Blood of Jesus Christ.  With Satan prowling for victims, the world is a minefield of pitfalls—we must be alert to the danger; accept the Truth God has given us; not allow ourselves to be distracted, and to keep our lamp of faith burning.  2 Peter 3:17 “Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.”

            We are not safe and not secure if we are following the world—a world that offers a million false places of trust.  2 Peter 2:4-5 “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;” then He will not spare anyone who deliberately disobeys His Word and follows plans of the world.

            The global Flood reminds of the coming destruction.  1 Peter 3:20 “God’s longsuffering was patiently waiting in the days of Noah during the building of the Ark, in which a few persons—eight in number—were brought safely through the water.”  The worldwide Flood symbolized eternal destruction for those refusing to repent and trust God, but it symbolizes eternal salvation for those who will repent and trust on the Blood of Jesus.

            The Ark represents the cleansing work of Christ—washing away our sins.  When Jesus came up from the waters of baptism, the Holy Spirit alighted on Him like a dove; and when the Ark came to rest on dry ground, a dove alighted on the boat.  Trees were cut down to build the Ark, and a tree was cut down to build a cross—to forgive our sins and keep us safe from the coming wrath.

            God patiently waited 120 years in Noah’s time, and He is still waiting before giving the command for His Son to return.  God said, Come into the Ark; Jesus says Matthew 19:21, “come and follow me.”  When everyone was in the Ark, God closed the door Genesis 7:16, and “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” Ephesians 1:13.

            Noah preached righteousness—by telling them to trust on God—but the world refused to listen, ignored his warnings, and perished.  Many today think they can live in sin and have time to repent, but Hebrews 3:7-8 “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness.”

            Millions remain in sin, because of false teaching like OSAS.  Many mock a Day of Judgment, but Jesus warned about that Luke 12:19-21 “I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’” 

            “But God said to him, ‘Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”  Multitudes have laid up money in the bank but are not rich in faith on God.

            Millions have put a job; a relative, or something else ahead of God, but Jesus said Matthew 10:37 “He who loves [anyone] more than Me is not worthy of Me.”  Anyone placed ahead of God is idolatry and sin Revelation 21:8.  Greed alone will prevent billions from entering God’s kingdom.  Mark 8:36 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

            There will be no appeals or attorneys on judgment day.  It will not matter if one’s name is on the world’s list of important people—Luke 16:15 “for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God”—but only if one’s name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life Revelation 3:5.  The flames of Hell never go out Mark 9:48—the safe position of faith in Christ must be maintained.

            Someone asked Luke 13:23-25 “Lord, are there few that be saved?  And he said unto them, ‘Strive to enter in at the straight gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.’”  Those who only spoke of faith, but did not live by faith, were told, “I do not know you.”

            God is not pleased that most people reject His Truth—He wants 1 Timothy 2:4 “All men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all.”

            To be safe and secure is to believe in the One God sent John 6:29, and to keep our faith on the Blood sacrifice Jesus made for us.  Everyone will have to confess their sins; repent of rebellion; forsake wrong attitudes; and put themselves under the Blood of Christ every day.

            Remaining safe means correctly interpreting the Bible and rightly applying its principles of trust on God.  2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

            No one can omit anything or add anything to what Jesus said.  Matthew 5:44-45 “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

            Maintaining our trust on God for divine healing is an important faith issue.  The woman had Mark 5:26 “Suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.”  When she touched His garment in faith Mark 5:34 “He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” 

            When two blind men believed Jesus could restore their sight, He said Matthew 9:29-30, “According to your faith be it unto you.  And their eyes were opened.”  No one can depend on medicine for help and depend on God for healing at the same time.  We either put our trust on the living God, or put our faith in some costly drug.

            It is by an enduring faith in the Blood of Jesus that we enter the kingdom, so Satan will try to move us away from that safe position of trust on God.  The only position of security is one of continuing trust on the living God for everything!

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