Ever since... your life changed

“Ever since God exhibited himself to us as a Father, we must be convicted of extreme ingratitude if we do not in turn exhibit ourselves as his sons.

Ever since Christ purified us by the laver of his blood and communicated this purification by baptism, it would ill become us to be defiled with new pollution.

Ever since he ingrafted us into his body, we, who are his members, should anxiously beware of contracting any stain or taint.

Ever since he who is our head ascended to heaven, it is befitting in us to withdraw our affections from the earth, and with our whole soul aspire to heaven.

Every since the Holy Spirit dedicated us as temples to the Lord, we should make it our endeavour to show forth the glory of God, and guard against being profaned by the defilement of sin.

Ever since our soul and body were destined to heavenly incorruptibility and an unfading crown, we should earnestly strive to keep them pure and uncorrupted against the day of the Lord.

These, I say, are the surest foundations of a well-regulated life.”

• John Calvin, Institutes, Book 3 Chapter 6 Section 3

After Judgment Comes Peace -- The Gospel Shines Brightly in Genesis 8:11

All this time had passed since the judgement Day but Moses, the author of Genesis, showcases the precise moment when the waters were unleashed by showing us the opposite day here: all is calm and life has begun.

And what do we read about? An olive branch in the mouth of a dove-messenger. Now, the olive tree doesn't grow in the highest parts of the mountains but grows wherever people are able to live and that's what the dove brings back by God’s divine appointment.

That's what God shows Noah in this moment: the waters of judgement have passed. The day when God unleashed the waters is now past and the day when God has everything in its place has returned. After judgement comes peace.

And those who are brought through judgement receive the olive branch of everlasting peace from God Himself. Talk about a lesson!

This was a sign of the goodness of God - “Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth.”

The same theme is echoed in the exodus from Egypt when God brings his people through those judgement waters that drowned Pharaoh and His hosts.

Christ, your guarantee, your covenant head, has endured the waters of judgement and as our ark, he brings us through onto dry ground.

And when we take up the waters of baptism, we announce that same deliverance through judgement is being promised in Christ to us and to our children!

You and I don't wait, cooped up in an ark, like Noah did. We are free now – standing in the new creation life which Christ has won for us!

Look at this whole flood story: do you see the total deliverance that is outlined here? How God leaves nothing to chance? How everything is according to His will?

If you’d like to hear more, consider listening to the sermon Pastor Norm preached on this passage by visiting this link.