You know, friends, it is not too hard to become a little callous these days as you keep abreast of world news through Press, Radio and TV. We constantly hear of brutal, barbarous crime, both at home and abroad. Recently a man in Africa was chained to a railway line so both legs would be severed by the next train. He lost his legs but survived the ordeal. However, I am sure the nightmarish experience will haunt him till the end of his days.
Thinking people are frankly disturbed at present trends. The position is desperate in almost every corner of the globe. What will be the end result, if present world trends continue? The answer to this question is seen clearly in the three worlds mentioned in the Holy Scriptures: the world that used to be, the world that is, and the world that soon shall be.
Follow closely. The Bible says, "The world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." 2 Peter 3:6. This is the first world of which we read in the Scriptures, the world God created, but later destroyed with a flood. The world that used to be! What a privilege it would have been to see that world before it was destroyed.
Daniel Webster was once asked what historical event he would have chosen to observe. Without hesitation he answered, "Creation," and I share his choice. To have seen God call into existence that perfect world would have been a privilege "par excellence." You know, it is very interesting to hear people speculating these days about God's part in creation. In fact, people even debate and deny God's existence. But when you stop to think it through, it is utterly absurd for men to say God doesn't exist. How could they know? A man would have to be omnipresent to make such a statement. He would have to be able to see all parts of the universe simultaneously, otherwise God might be in the very place he can't see. Isn't that so? Because man is not omnipresent, it is sheer nonsense to say God doesn't exist.
And how did the world come into existence? The Bible says, "In the beginning . . . in six days the Lord made heaven and earth." Genesis 1:1 and Exodus 20:11. Those statements are thousands of years old. They are not the theories of men but the statements of the Creator Himself. Well, maybe you are saying, "I can't accept that. It is not scientific." Maybe you are saying you believe the theory of evolution because it's so scientific.
Well, I put it to you that the doctrine of the creation of this world by God is both modern and scientific. Let me illustrate. It was a simple mathematical equation that revealed the secrets and power of the tiny atom. Albert Einstein expressed it this way: E = MC2. Now, I am not a scientist. I don't pretend to be. But I do understand that matter has a vast energy content. When scientists came to understand this fact, the atomic age began. Hiroshima and Nagasaki became the smouldering funeral pyres of man's experiment in the deep secrets of the atom.
Now let's think this thing through for a moment. Scientists have learned to set in motion a chain reaction that instantaneously converts matter into energy. For example, an atomic explosion. If man can do all that, then how much more could God, who is not bound by such laws, not subservient to them, have made this world and all that is in it? Yes, the space age, the atomic age has rolled back a little of the veil of secrecy that has shrouded the universe for centuries. It has shown us that the story of the instantaneous creation as recorded in the holy Scriptures is very scientific.
The record of Genesis is not at variance with any known scientific facts. And more important still, the Genesis account is true. God, who made all things in this world over a period of six short days, has told us this through the writings of the prophets. And when the work of creation was finished, God said it was very good, it was perfect. Nothing to mar the beauty. No note of discord. No hint of pain. Adam and Eve lived in a perfect garden, in a perfect world, in a Perfect universe.
Then what went wrong? Well, our first parents enjoyed personal fellowship with God as long as they chose to obey Him. But in the course of time, they chose to disobey, and the harmony, fellowship and beauty was immediately marred. After that, it didn't take long for the deadly virus of sin to devastate their world.
The Scriptures says in Genesis 6, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that the purposes and desires of his heart were only evil continually." Genesis 6:5. "Only evil continually", that was the mark of "the world that used to be." So wicked, it had to be destroyed. Oceans of water from above and beneath flooded the world that was, and it perished.
Can you prove that there really was a universal flood? Yes, it can be proven by demonstration. For instance, archaeologists in the Mesopotamian Valley have unearthed a number of tablets, among them tablets of ancient Babylon on which were recorded the Gilgamesh Epic, in which an account of a flood which destroyed the world is recorded; and the account is so parallel in detail after detail that people conclude that they must have been writing about the identical flood that is written about in the Bible, a universal flood. Two hundred and ninety-two races of men at least have a tradition of a great flood which destroyed the world at one time.
How else can it be proved? Certainly through fossil evidence. It is not normal for fossils to be buried. Normally speaking, when creatures die, buzzards come along and pick their carcass, scavengers devour them and some types of animals even devour bones. Then ants come along and clean up what is left, and a few years later there is nothing left of that creature.
There are only two ways in which creatures are buried intact; that is, either in case of volcanic upheaval in which volcanic ash would suddenly bury them, or in the case of a flood in which they would suddenly be buried and covered over with sand and clay.
So, fossil evidence indicates a flood; archaeology indicates it; 2 Peter 3,4 indicate it: "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?..."
The people say it seems so strange that Christians would talk about the second coming of Christ because that is contrary to the natural order of things; it is impossible for us to conceive of an inbreaking of God into the natural order that He ordained. And they will say (verse 4) "...for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
Today the evolutionists and many others speak about "gradualness;"and they speak about slow change in the natural order of things; they will say that all changes in the evolutionary past of mankind can be explained by presently acting causes.
They will say causes that are acting today have always been acting, nothing has ever changed; and they will deny a universal flood, and they will deny the evidence of it. The Scripture says "for this they willingly are ignorant", these are the scoffers that would come in the last day and deny the second coming of Christ, and they will be willingly ignorant that by the "Word of God the heavens were of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water and all that then was being overflowed with water perished", and that is what they will be willingly ignorant of.
If you are willingly ignorant of something, it means there is evidence to prove it, but you tune it out, you don't want to acknowledge it, you refuse to see it.
So over the first world we must write the simple epitaph: The Introduction of Sin Then the Bible describes the second world in these words, "The heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store reserved unto fire." 2 Peter 3:7. The second world is the one in which we live. It began with just eight people: Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives. Eight righteous, industrious, holy people. A family that loved and served God. Yet time ravished this world, also, as all too quickly men were changed by selfishness, wickedness, disobedience and their neglect of God.
And you know, that is exactly what the Bible predicted would happen two thousand years ago. Listen to the words of Jesus, "As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as the days that were before the flood 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. So shall also the coming of the Son of Man be."
The first world saw the introduction of sin, and the second world has just furthered the progress of sin. But listen, here is something infinitely more significant. The most important event in the history of the world that is now, may be summarized in three simple words, Solution to Sin. Jesus Christ came to our world. He lived a life of absolute obedience to His Father's will. He never yielded to the influence of sin. He showed men how to live. He gave to a godless world a picture of His heavenly Father.
Justice demanded that sin be punished by death. The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death," but the Master said, "I will satisfy justice by dying in man's place. In this way I can offer him eternal life." The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." The red stain of Calvary has left its indelible mark on earth. We must say of the second world, it is one in which God revealed the solution to the whole ugly sin question.
The first world was destroyed by flood. This second world will be utterly destroyed by fire. The Scriptures says, "But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Nevertheless we according to His promises look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." The first world saw the introduction of sin, the second world has seen the solution to sin, and soon there is to be a third world which will witness the eternal eradication of sin, and the restoration of a perfect world.
It is going to be a world where man will enjoy everlasting life, eternal life! It is going to be a world in which this mortal shall put on immortality and God shall wipe away every tear and there shall be no more crying and no more death! It is going to be a world that will be beautiful and wonderful beyond belief!
And, it is just as sure as the Word of God is sure, and the Word of God has never failed! My friends, my plea to you is, "Are you planning for the world to come?" You should be! It is worth so much more than anything this world has to offer. Jesus said that you must learn to think more highly of your life in the world to come than you do of your own life in this present evil world.
God wants you to be in that new and perfect world. He has made every provision for you to be there. If today you will accept the sacrifice of Christ to cancel the debt of your sins, and daily live in harmony with His will, you will be there. By repentance and obedience, you can prepare today for the world of tomorrow.
C.B. Christopher was for many years secretary of the London City Mission. He often recalls that when he was only fifteen years of age he conducted his first gospel service in Southern England. He rehearsed his talk in a field, his pulpit was a haystack; his congregation, a dozen cows; his text, "Repent ye and be converted." Of course the cows paid little attention, but when he finished he was surprised to find on the other side of the haystack a man on his knees praying to God for forgiveness. He said to Christopher, "Tell me more about Jesus." This man was a drunkard and a fighter, yet by faith he accepted the story of redemption and found peace with God. Christopher says, "It was my first soul won to the Lord."
This young preacher didn't see the man behind the haystack as he rehearsed his sermon; and even though we can't see each other, the Holy Spirit can speak to your heart right now, wherever you may be.
Our Lord has told us that whatever we ask, asking in faith and believing, we will receive. Ask Him right now for peace in your own life. Ask Him to help you over that difficult problem.
Just as in the days of Noah, it is a tough world to live in today. There are crimes committed every day all about us. Many people don't care for religious things anymore. They want to please themselves. And no matter what it takes they will do it.
Even with all these things, too many people still find that their happiness doesn't come with "things." Joy and peace is still lacking in their lives. God can supply these things. He is the author of all love and happiness. And He wants to see everyone happy and full of love for each other.
Give God a chance in your life today; tell Him right now that you want to live a better and richer life with His help.