Look Up, Grow Up, Spruce Up

1 Look Up, Grow Up, Spruce Up

In Rochester, NY, there is a local radio sports show that is a call up program. Some callers are regulars and they have nicknames one that has always stuck out to me is a guy who call’s himself, "Mr. Negativity." I guess he always looks at things from the negative side. To be honest with you that is what I could have called myself when it came to my outlook on the end times. Today’s message will be a very positive and encouraging end times message and I trust the Lord it’s truths will encourage you as much as they have encouraged me.

I have three points from scripture that will help you in your end times view. They are:

Look up

Grow up

Spruce up

1. Look up

Luke 17:26-30 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Most sermons on this passage and the phrase, "As it was in the days of Noah..." will usually go into a long list of the murder rate, the divorce rate, the amount of cultists, the soon coming mark of the beast etc. I used to think that way also, until the Lord reminded me of a passage also found in the book of Luke:

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

I found it hard to look up, or cheer up when I thought the worst was happening, and even worse was ahead. Then a friend shared an insight on Noah that radically changed all my thinking and understanding on the end times. Jesus said, as it was in the days of Noah... even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. The days of Noah are a parallel to how the world will be when Jesus returns, but his insight was this, the days of Noah are also a parallel to how the church will be when Jesus returns. This brings us to several questions, how was Noah doing spiritually, and is there any reference in the NT that the church will be like Noah?

A. How was Noah doing spiritually?

Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

This passage tells us several things about Noah.

1. Noah found grace (favor, loving acceptance) (Expound further)

2. Noah was a just man. Just = Hebrew - tsaddiyq; just, righteous (in conduct and character); righteous (as justified and vindicated by God; right, correct, lawful

3. Noah was perfect in his generations. (NAS: Genesis 6:9 ... Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.) Perfect = sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

4. Noah walked with God, i.e. he walked in a way that was God honoring and God pleasing.

Many people’s view of the last days church is some beat up bride with a ripped and torn wedding gown, and black eye and bloody lip. But is that the picture the bible gives us. Does the bible suggest that the last days church will be like Noah finding grace with God, being just, perfect and walking with him? Yes it does! Here are some scriptures:

Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

I will share more as this message goes on but for now let me simply say that the people in the world of Noah’s day will parallel the people of the world in the last days, and that the church in the last days will parallel the godly character of Noah. Now that is something that can make me look up for my redemption draweth nigh!

2. Grow up.

Matthew 13:24-26 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.