In the Minority

Reading in Genesis, we get to the true account of Noah’s ark. It was a fantastic achievement in engineering and planning—God’s blueprint carried out to the letter by Noah and his sons. It housed animals and any humans who would listen to Noah’s hundred-year preaching about impending judgment.

How many responded and got onto the ark? Noah, his wife, their sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives. Eight people in the whole world got on the ark. Eight people responded and believed that God’s Word was true—out of everyone!

God shut the door, and Noah’s family was saved. All the other people and land animals were drowned in the Flood. They had scoffed and claimed the preacher was off his rocker. They mocked him and his God. And, they died in worldwide judgment.

It’s much the same today. “Our grandparents had this religion. Our parents followed it, too. Who are you to say they were wrong?”

Jesus said, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14).

So, what is this gate? It’s Jesus Himself! Read these passages:

• Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.... I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture (John 10:7, 9).
• Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).

This next Bible passage is very similar to the story of the ark, only the image is a house: Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity (Luke 13:23-27).

How can a person know Jesus? One must be born again. When Nicodemus went to talk to Him, Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again…. 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:4-7, 16-18).

Have you entered by the straight gate?

Have you gone through the door?

Have you turned from your sins to the One who can save?

Have you been born again?

Jesus isn’t the most popular way, but He is the only way.

Go to Him before the door is closed. You’ll be part of the minority, but you’ll be on your way to heaven.

In the New Testament, we find these verses:

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,

the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,

being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit …

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God

waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing,

wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water (1 Peter 3:18, 20).

Have you been saved? Come inside the Ark, which is Christ. He will keep you forever.

Non-fiction Review: Emotional Victory

Emotional Victory: How to Deal with How You Feel, by Bud Calvert is an excellent book for Christians and especially those who counsel. I would recommend it for pastors, their wives, and anyone who needs a general counseling book about marriage, emotions, rejection, burn-out, conflicts, depression, feeling defeated, etc. In my opinion, Dr. Calvert hits a home run with his chapter on lust. (It’s about all kinds of desires, the biblical definition of "lusts of the flesh.")

This book is filled with Scripture about each subject. It’s not Christian psychobabble. It is good, solid biblical help—with Bible references—for many everyday emotional issues. You may use it to help yourself and others. It’s strong on what God can do for anybody.  

Here are a few random quotes that I thought were especially good:

• “If you want to be defeated, look back. If you want to be distracted, look around. If you want to be dismayed, look within. But if you want to be delivered, look up.”
• “Consider the example you see in the life of Jesus. Before you give up, set your face like a flint and decide this: I will finish what God has called me to. I will not give up. I will not give in.”
• On parenting: “When you concentrate on dealing with the inside, (of a child, in this context) the externals will fall into place as well.”
• Also about parenting: “The first step to talking out problems is to listen.”
• “When I feel guilt, it is because I know I’ve done wrong—whether the wrongdoing is real or imagined.”

My only exception is a minor point. Although Dr. Calvert mentions consulting a doctor about depression, he mentions it as an afterthought. My personal experience with counseling Christian women leads me to think that, especially Christians who experience sudden feelings of depression, might want to consult a doctor first. There are so many different physical causes that might need ruled out (hormones, chemical deficiencies, seasonal mood swings, etc.) that a doctor would be able to pinpoint in a few minutes. The need for medical help is probably temporary, but the person might get answers and help for those totally irrational feelings. Dr. Calvert covers all the other causes of depression thoroughly and well (death of a loved one, victimization, profound sadness, etc.).

The chapter about lust alone is well worth the price of the book.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Emotional Victory to you. (on Amazon and available for Kindle)