Floods of Water and Grace from Above

In the last week of 2004 a terrible disaster occurred in Southeast Asia. An earthquake created tidal waves that traveled at a speed of 800 kilometers per hour and flooded islands and coastal areas in the entire region. Tens of thousands drowned, millions of people became homeless, and the consequences will be felt for many years to come. What impression has this disaster left on us? Has it become a wonder that we have not yet been struck by God's almighty hand and His righteous judgments? Or are we better than those poor Asians and those holidaymakers from across the world who were swept from time into eternity on December 26? Have we heard the voice of the Lord in this catastrophe, the voice of Him who comes to judge the living and the dead? “The floods have lifted up, O LORD , the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves” (Psalm 93:3). Have we ever learned to bow before His majesty?

In the book of Genesis we can also read about a flood, the Deluge. That flood took place at a most unexpected time. “They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away” (Matthew 24:38-39). The days of Noah were dark and full of sin. There was a mixing up of the church and the world, of “the sons of God” and “the daughters of men.” There was much violence in society. Individualism, materialism, and hedonism were rampant. Is this not a picture of our world today? Is it perhaps a picture of our own life? Then there is reason to fear!

“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” (Genesis 6:5). Here we find the total depravity of man. Have we found the same in our heart? Outwardly we may lead a decent life, but what is underneath the surface? There is nothing but an evil heart! The light of the Holy Spirit shows this to God's children. It is a painful but necessary discovery. God is to be exalted to the highest, and man needs to be abased to the lowest. Only then will the Savior shine forth in all His glory. The depravity of man is a truth that we must hold onto and a truth that we must live in experimentally. Alas, the people in the days of Noah only lived out their depravity.

“And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart” (vs. 6). An awe-inspiring word! “And it repented the LORD….” This does not mean that God had changed. It means that man had changed. Man has destroyed God's image and corrupted his way. Can a holy God tolerate that? If He could, He would cease being God! His repentance is not a change in His essence but rather shows that He remains true to Himself. His creation is marred by sin. “And it grieved Him at His heart.” Does it never grieve you, dear reader? There are many people today who struggle with heart problems. Does your heart ever ache because of sin? Is it torn apart by the sorrow of this world, or may there be something of that godly sorrow which worketh repentance to salvation? Ah, man is so insensitive! God repents; He who has never committed any wrong. And we do not repent, we who are the guilty ones, who can sink away into hell at any moment.

“And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth.” God's judgment is impending. Yes, the Lord is slow to wrath. He is longsuffering. In the days of Noah He was patient with mankind for 120 years. But that was the limit. Then God took away His restraining grace. He opened the floodgates of heaven and knocked away the dikes. The torrential rains and the swelling waters made the people flee in mortal fear to rooftops, trees, and mountains, but the water continued to rise. They banged on the door of Noah's ark, but there was no reply. It was too late, forever too late! The whole creation was reduced to nothing. It was again as on the first day: there was water, nothing but water.

And so it will be on the last day, too. Then it will not be water but fire which shall destroy the earth (2 Peter 3:5-7). And in the meantime? “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26). Do we not see it coming closer and closer? The waters are rising. The Lord is removing the dikes. Worst of all, we have begun to do it ourselves. We are breaking the dikes that protect our society, our families, and our churches. There is a flood of sin and immorality breaking in. And the day is approaching on which God will take away the last dikes. The flood of His judgment will come as a thief in the night.

No, we do not want to make you afraid, as if fear by itself will lead to genuine repentance. But we urge you to bow your knees and beg for mercy. Oh, that the terror of the Lord might persuade you to flee from the wrath to come! That the love of Christ might constrain you to seek salvation in the day of grace!

Grace: that is the last word here in Genesis 6. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (VS. 8). In the midst of those raging waters there was one man who received grace from above. It was Noah. God bestowed mercy on him. Why? Was Noah better in himself? No, he found grace! Sovereign mercy made a distinction where there was n o distinction. In the epistle to the Hebrews Noah is listed among the heroes of faith. In other words, it was not by his good works but by a God-given faith that he pleased God. Surely, this faith manifested itself in a tender walk. That was the fruit. But the fruit is not the root. The ground of his salvation was found only in the greater Noah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, that greater Noah who became less than His sin-laden people! He was willing to sink away in the flood of God's wrath to atone for their guilt. Of Him it can be said, “As the waters plunge and leap, deep re-echoes unto deep; all Thy waves and billows roaring o'er my troubled soul are pouring.”

Therefore you can still find grace in God's eyes, whoever you are. Has it ever become a wonder that the earth is still sustaining you and that you may wake up in the morning to see the light of another day? Oh, seek a place in the Ark of salvation. The 120 years are coming to an end, and the door is still open. But before long the door will be shut. And then you will knock in vain.

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. “We may indeed say: a happy finder! He experienced the mercies of a covenant-God. And so it is with all God's poor and needy ones. Jehovah's truth will stand forever. It is His own promise: “For this is as the waters of Noah unto Me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the LORD, that hath mercy on thee.” It may go through deep agonies, as in the life of Noah. But the waters of tribulation could only lift him up. They brought him closer to heaven. And therefore, “O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.”

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