Will We Look for Safety After It Is Too Late?

The same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. Genesis 7:11.
The antediluvians were warned, but the record states that they knew not until the Flood came and took them all away…. They saw Noah and his wife and their sons and their wives passing into the ark; and the door was closed upon them. Only eight persons entered that refuge from the storm, and for a week they waited for the rain to come…. Daily the sun rose and set in a clear sky, and daily there came to Noah the temptation to doubt. But the Lord had said that the Flood was coming, and Noah rested in this word.
At the end of seven days clouds began to gather. This was a new sight, for the people had never seen clouds…. Thicker and thicker gathered the clouds, and soon rain began to fall. Still the people tried to think that this was nothing very alarming. But soon it seemed as if the windows of heaven had been opened, for the rain poured down in torrents. For a time the ground drank up the rain; but soon the water began to rise, and day by day it rose higher and higher. Each morning as the people found the rain still falling they looked at one another in despair, and each night they repeated the words “Raining still!” Thus it was, morning and evening.
For forty days and forty nights the rain poured down. The water entered the houses and drove the people to the temples that they had erected for their idolatrous worship. But the temples were swept away. The crust of the earth was broken, and the water that had been concealed in its bowels burst forth. Large stones were thrown into the air.
Everywhere could be seen human beings fleeing in search of a refuge. The time had come when they would have been only too glad to accept an invitation to enter the ark. Filled with anguish, they cried, “Oh, for a place of safety!” Some shrieked to Noah, pleading for admission into the ark. But amid the furious blast of the tempest their voices were unheard. Some clung to the ark till they were washed away by the dashing waves. God had shut in those who believed His word, and no others could enter.
Parents with their children sought the highest branches of the trees yet standing; but no sooner had they reached this refuge than the wind flung tree and people into the foaming, seething water….
Where now was the ark and those at whom the people had jeered and mocked? Preserved by the power of God, the immense boat was riding safely upon the waters, and Noah and his family were safe inside.—The Signs of the Times, April 10, 1901.
Christ Triumphant p. 61
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Mike and Ronnie Jay as they go for some training next week. Rose
—– My daughter’s boyfriend is very sick in the hospital with some kind of blood disorder. He’s only 19 and scared as anyone would be. Please pray for him and my daughter as neither are in the faith, although I have tried to share little things with her often and with him when we met him for the first time at Christmas. David
—–Update on Baby Wyatt:
On Wednesday 2/22/23 Wyatt’s mama posted this update: Wyatt still remains home on hospice.
Wyatt has been sick for a few weeks and not doing the greatest. His kidneys are still trying to heal from a respiratory infection and it’s really taking a toll on him. Wyatt’s GiGi ( Katie’s mom) also had a mild heart attack on Saturday but is doing well now.
We continue to trust in God’s timing. Please continue to pray for Wyatt. Pray for his comfort, healing, heart and kidneys. Mary
—–I really need prayer. One of my dear sons was in a horrible auto accident and he died on the scene. Not only am I grieving badly for him but now my house has become very dark and scary with a very evil presence that I can feel. My dog has been acting weird too with her suddenly barking and growling and the fur standing up straight on her back when she looks towards my house with nothing that is visible then she quickly runs away. There was also a loud continuous knocking last night inside an empty fifth wheel on my property. Thank you so much for your prayers. They are really needed. Connie
—–Please continue praying for E and children. R
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Dear Friends,
When I was a little girl and still lived with my grandparents, I had a playmate named Gary. He lived several blocks away, but was allowed to come to my house to play. His parents were older, as were most people in the neighborhood and I think they were probably glad to have somebody for him to play with so they could have some peace and quiet. Over the years we liked each other like it is normal for children to do. We talked about what we would do when we grew up and, since he wanted to be an architect, he would draw up plans for our house.
One day as we were at the playground of the school across the street, he saw some girls he knew. At first he ignored me and talked to them. When they asked him who I was, he introduced me as his cousin. That made me feel quite upset. I suddenly realized that all those plans for the future were something he told all girls and that I was nothing special to him. I was brokenhearted.
After I went to live with my mother and her second husband, I seldom saw Gary. One day around my 14th birthday, I happened to meet him and invited him to my birthday party. He gladly accepted. At the party, he was flirting with June and Gloria and ignoring me. I was thoroughly disappointed and disgusted with him. He, whom I had counted as my friend, was really no friend at all.
Do we do the same to our Loving Saviour? Are we ashamed of our Best Friend? Do we introduce Him to others, or do we pretend that we don’t even know Him? Do we go to meet Him in His house but allow our focus to be on other things or on others. Do we try to rationalize away our denial? Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matt 10:32,33 Paul warns, “if we deny him, he also will deny us.” 2 Tim 2:12 Solemn words. Words that have eternal consequences.
Often we are like Peter and declare that we would never deny our Lord. When Jesus told His disciples that they would deny Him, Peter stood up and proclaimed that although everyone else would deny Him, he never would. “But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.” Mark 14:29-31 Peter could not believe it, but when he was “backed into a corner,” he denied his Master. He denied the One Who was giving His life for him. When Peter denied Jesus, the Bible says, “Peter
remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” Matt 26:75
May we serve our Dear Saviour with our whole heart and joyfully confess Him to all around is my prayer.
Rose