Am I real or am I Memorex? (from an old commercial).
Over the past several years (since our church started meeting only in my home) several people have asked me, "Do you have a, REAL CHURCH."
Recently someone said to me,
"I heard you are a pastor. Where is your church?"
I responded,
"We meet in my home."
To which they said,
"Are you a real pastor?"
I then said,
"No, I am a pretend pastor."
I think I also said,
"I have a pretend church."
Hehehe.
Sure wish I had all of the things that make a real church, but then my people would probably wish they had a real pastor.
I was thinking (it happens).
Noah must not have really cared about all those dying people, or he would have chartered an ocean liner.
The ark must not have been a real boat, or it would have been Coast Guard Approved.
He must not have been a real preacher of righteousness, or he would have rescued more people than just his family.
Or could it be that the problem was not with Noah, but with the people who refused his message? (remember, he was a preacher of righteousness: He. 11:7; 2 Pe. 2:5).
I wonder what they all said, as the water level increased and as the ark floated past them? Maybe they said something like, "Were we real stupid, or what?" They probably did not. They probably said, "This flood isn't real, is it? glub, glub, choke, choke, gurgle, gurgle."
I also tend to think that Noah led his family in worship, while on the ark. This included praise and thanksgiving for the mercy and salvation of God, and it also included compassion and disappointment for those who do not accept the message of God.
Think about this too: Noah was the only one that the people knew, who preached the radical message of holiness (righteousness) and grace and judgment. I guess they were looking for a message that was more real.
Or could it be that the problem was not with Noah, but with the people who refused his message? (remember, he was a preacher of righteousness: He. 11:7; 2 Pe. 2:5).
I wonder what they all said, as the water level increased and as the ark floated past them? Maybe they said something like, "Were we real stupid, or what?" They probably did not. They probably said, "This flood isn't real, is it? glub, glub, choke, choke, gurgle, gurgle."
I also tend to think that Noah led his family in worship, while on the ark. This included praise and thanksgiving for the mercy and salvation of God, and it also included compassion and disappointment for those who do not accept the message of God.
Think about this too: Noah was the only one that the people knew, who preached the radical message of holiness (righteousness) and grace and judgment. I guess they were looking for a message that was more real.
Hebrews 11:7
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
2 Peter 2:4-9
4 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;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
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