Focal Point

Pastor Mike Fabarez: You and I ought to be pressed with the reality because the Bible says, "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." And at that point, the door will be shut. And if you miss it by a day, if you miss it by five hours, you've missed it. As Isaiah 55 says, you should seek the Lord while he may be found.

Dave Drewry: Welcome to Focal Point with Mike Fabarez. I'm Dave Drewry. The story of Noah is a favorite for children's books. Colorful pictures of arks and animals capture the imaginations of young hearts and minds.

But Noah's story is much more than a colorful Sunday school lesson. It's God's loving and loud call of warning. Before we get started, if you're a first-time listener, reach out today and get your free copy of Pastor Mike's latest booklet offering, *Our Best*, online at focalpointradio.org. Now here's Pastor Mike with today's message.

Pastor Mike Fabarez: Look at verse number seven of Hebrews chapter 11. It says, "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen..." They'd never seen a flood, let alone the destruction of the world. They hadn't experienced that. Life had just gone on since creation.

But because he heeded the warning and trusted the one that gave him the warning and believed the warning was true, in holy fear, the Bible says, he built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world. But because of his faith, look at this: he became the heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

That bridges for us the Old Testament account of Noah and the New Testament call of the gospel right there, because it's really not about biological salvation. This right here makes it clear that really what it's about from a New Testament perspective for all of us is not just being biologically spared from some impending disaster.

It's all about this righteousness that we need to stand before a holy God. That's the truth of the Bible. There's only one real God and I think he's clearly revealed himself in scripture. I know some of you are saying, "Well, that's the problem. I don't believe that book. It's been rewritten a hundred thousand times and it's just not reliable, a lot of oral tradition in there. I don't really believe it."

There is a God and he has revealed himself. And God has done so in the pages of the scripture. That's a whole other sermon, but do the homework because if you're sitting here going, "Well, that is what the Bible says and you're right about that, but I'm not sure I believe the Bible," let's get that one settled.

This bears the marks of inspiration, just like the world, by the way. Ask a geologist. It bears the marks of a deluge, a universal flood. There's evidence for that and there's evidence that this is God's word and God says make sure you get on the ark.

As a matter of fact, it's a scary thing, but let me turn you to it. Genesis chapter seven, back to the middle of this discussion. Genesis chapter seven. This is so powerful and I've read this so many times. I was reading this over and over this week, getting in the sandals of Noah and his generation, and then it hit me as I was reading this section. Look at what's being said in this text.

Genesis chapter seven, verse number 11. Genesis 7:11. That one's easy to remember. Look what it says. "In the six hundredth year..." Remember, antediluvian, pre-flood world, totally different place, totally different, more conducive to biological life. He's 600 years old and plenty of strength to build a boat, right?

"Six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month." I had to read that about three times and I'm finally starting to get it. This is a day on the calendar. This is a day that they all said, "Well, we remember what it was. It was the six hundredth year, it was the seventeenth day of the second month." On that day... I mean, there was a day here.

"The springs of the great deep burst forth. The floodgates of the heavens were opened." Something underneath, something on top. We had this huge deluge. "And rain fell on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights. And on that very day..." What day? The seventeenth day of the second month. "Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark."

They had with them, and if you read earlier, we've got seven days of putting these animals all in place on the ark. Every animal according to its kind, livestock after its kind, creatures move along the ground, you've got birds, everything with wings, pairs of creatures, everything with breath of life in it, verse 15. They came to Noah and he entered the ark. The animals were going in male and female, every living thing, as God had commanded Noah.

Now underline these words: "Then Yahweh shut him in." Boom. You're in, sealed. Okay. Whether they pull up the rope or not, I don't know, but the door closed on what day? Six hundredth year of Noah's life, seventeenth day, second month. That's when it happened.

When did the door close? Six hundredth year, seventeenth day, second month. That's when it closed. Boom. Could you get on on the eighteenth day of the six hundredth year of the second month? No, can't get on. Door's closed. Could you get on on the fifteenth day of the second month of the six hundredth year? Yeah, it's open.

Can you get on? Sure. As a matter of fact, all week people are getting on, on and off, on and off. Animals all on the ark. But seventeenth day it closed. They all got in, the judgment of God came, and the opportunities for salvation... are you catching this? Was over. No more.

You want to get on on the eighteenth day? No. You want to get on seventeenth day late in the afternoon? Probably not, okay? Closed. Morning? Okay. But no one knew it was coming. Oh, they had heard it was coming, but no one knew exactly when. God had prepared Noah. He was ready. Everybody else, "Man, I don't know about believing all this stuff."

Then the door was shut and the Lord shut him in. For 40 days, verse 17 says, the flood kept coming on the earth. The waters increased. It lifted the ark high above the earth. The waters rose and greatly increased on the earth. The ark floated above the surface of the water. They rose greatly on earth. The high mountains under the entire heavens were covered.

There's not a culture in this world, post-deluvian culture obviously, who doesn't record some kind of flood account. We've got the divinely inspired word from God right here and what happened. And by the way, fossil fuels, petroleum products, geologic records of sea life at the tops of mountains, the world bears the marks of this catastrophic universal event. It changed our planet.

But what I want you to underscore in your mind is it happened on the six hundredth year, the seventeenth day of the second month of Noah's life. And the Bible says that God in his own authority has fixed a day in which he will judge the world. And it hasn't happened yet, but that day is on the calendar.

He's not telling anybody. No one knows. Don't go to the next prophecy seminar to try and get a date. You won't get one. But it's coming. And at that point the door will be shut. And if you miss it by a day, if you miss it by five hours, you've missed it.

I'm not trying to pressure you. I'm just trying to remind you that you should, as Isaiah 55 says, you should seek the Lord while he may be found. Did you catch that? Because one day he won't be. And I don't care how much you cry and beg and plead, the door will be shut.

There's a day fixed in his own authority. He will judge the world. And for you then, it will be too late. Are you ready? Are you absolutely sure you're on the ark? Are you positive? I'm trying to persuade you as best I can to make sure. It's getting uncomfortable now. I understand that.

That's the point. You and I ought to be pressed with the reality of this because the Bible says, "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." And the problem that we have is that just like in the days of Noah, here's what Jesus said, "Oh, they were marrying and giving in marriage and they had plans to make and they were picking out bridesmaids' dresses and they had all kinds of stuff going on and they were investing in their 401(k)s and everything was just business as usual." And then, Jesus said, "the flood came and destroyed them all."

The day will be over for you. One day the time will be up. You've got to be sure now because that time could be up this afternoon. It could be up next week. Are you absolutely positively sure? I'm not trying to save you from loneliness or purposelessness or trying to get in touch with your inner child. I'm trying to say, "Are you going to avoid the wrath of God?" That's the question.

Psalm 32, David said, "Let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found because surely when the mighty waters rise..." there's the picture of Noah's flood. "They are not going to reach you." The person who puts their trust in Christ will be kept safe.

Okay, Mike, I got it. I'm totally there. I'm sure of it. I know I've repented of my sins. I put my trust in Christ. I'm not trusting in a pine cone fire-throwing experience. I'm not trusting in some kind of prayer I prayed. I see that I have put my trust in Christ. I see evidence of that relationship with God. I'm positively sure. Great. Great. Then this last point is for you.

Back to Hebrews 11, verse number seven. By faith Noah, he was warned about the things that weren't yet seen. In holy fear, he built an ark. Now, I love this: it wasn't just to save himself. It was to save his family. He was going to put a few extra seats on this thing. He was going to save his family.

Now, you'd say why didn't he save more people than that? According to 2nd Peter chapter two, verse number five, he tried. He tried. He put the message out there. He got his three sons and his three daughters-in-law and his wife, thankfully, on board.

But the people... no one else responded. As a matter of fact, that's what this means in the bottom of verse number seven, is that by his faith he condemned the world. Not only was the ark in his backyard a condemnation of the world, but his preaching that they kept saying, "Oh, you're a nut." That condemned the world.

People have imagined what that must have been like. A lot of ancient extra-biblical writings are fictitious accounts of what Noah must have said as he preached to the masses as they were building the ark. I mean, we can wonder what that's like. What did he say? Surely he called people to repentance. Surely he said, "Get on the ark." But they wouldn't have it.

Well, I guess there were seven people along with Noah that would have it. They wanted a seat, but most people didn't. Broad is the road, wide is the gate that leads to destruction, many enter by it. Small is the gate, narrow is the road that leads to life, and few are those who find it.

You can say, "Mike, I know I'm prepared." Great. Then let's be like Noah. If we really, really believe this, number three on your outline: Let's you and I try to get others on board. Let's just do that. That seems so basic and fundamental. But let us try to get other people on board.

And as you do, and if you're serious about this, just be prepared that like Noah, you're going to have the same experience. There will be some that say, "Fantastic. Give me a seat on that place. I'll get on. I'll get on the barge." And then you're going to have a bunch of other people that go, "You are a nut. Stop trying to cram your Bible down my throat. I'm sick of hearing about it." You're going to have those people too. There will be nothing but a condemnation for them.

So many passages I want to show you. Let me just show you one, okay? Maybe two. 2nd Corinthians chapter two. As you start to open your mouth and tell people, "Man, you need to get right with God," and I know that's a caricature, you don't want to be a part... I don't want to be a sandwich-board "turn or burn, the end is near." I don't want to do that.

You know what? That's the most loving thing you could say to somebody this week, okay? Maybe you don't need to say it with some kind of banner that has flames on it, okay? Fine. You don't need a bullhorn. But maybe you should say to them, "I care enough about you to tell you that I want you to be right with God because one day the Bible says there will be judgment for sin, and you and I both qualify. But you know what? I've been placed into a relationship with Christ because of my faith in what he's done and I'd like you to experience that same thing."

That would be a loving thing to say. You don't have to shout at them. Don't need a bullhorn. Don't need a banner with flames on it. But you should say to them in essence, "You should turn to Christ or you will face the judgment of God." That's a turn or burn message. I'm sorry, that's what it is. But we need to come to the place where we recognize our obligation.

When we do, let's get our expectations straight. Are you in 2nd Corinthians chapter two? Look at verse number 12. Paul went to a place called Troas and he went to preach the gospel. Even that, isn't that become a dirty word in our day? Preach. "Oh, don't preach at me."

That's the most loving thing you could do is herald. That's what the word "preach" means. Herald the message of the gospel. What's the gospel of Christ? The good news that you don't have to suffer the consequences of your sin. You don't have to. That's the good news. Trust in Christ.

And Paul said he went to this place called Troas and you know what? They were like, "Yeah, we want to hear about that." The door was open for me. "But still I had no peace of mind. I couldn't find my brother Titus." That's where he went. He went to go find Titus in Troas, but he didn't find him. So he said goodbye to them and he went on to Macedonia.

And now he's realized I'm starting to list a lot of places here and he says, "You know, even in Macedonia," which didn't quite go as well if you read the rest of the New Testament, but he says, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us..." Now underline this. "...spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him."

Now he's into an analogy and the analogy is this: "When I go and herald the message of the good news, I am representing Christ. And when I'm there talking about the gospel in Christ, I am representing him and it's like a smell comes into the room. And that smell is either good or bad based on the hearts of the people that hear it."

He says in verse 15, "We are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved," that's good, "and those who are perishing." Oh, they don't handle it as well. "To the one we are the smell of death." Right? "Don't cram that down my throat, you narrow-minded Christian, you Bible thumper. I don't want to hear that." To the other, we're the fragrance of life. "Tell me more about that. You know, I kind of felt that God's kind of working in my heart. Give me... where's... where's that in the Bible? Show that to me. I want to see that." We're the fragrance of death or the fragrance of life.

And if, by the way, here's another excuse we use, Paul says, "Who is equal to such a task?" Some of us say, "Well, I... I can't do that. You know, I... people know at my workplace that I'm imperfect and they've watched me kind of mess up a few things, and so I can't talk for Christ." Yes, you can. No one... this is a rhetorical question. Who is equal to the task of bringing the message of the gospel to people? No one.

I realize that. You're imperfect, I'm imperfect, we're all imperfect. Share the message anyway. Which, by the way, speaks to those of you who don't even want to get into this dialogue because you're the kind that witness with your life, right? You witness with your life? Just witness with my life. Just going to live a good life in front of them.

You can live your good life all you want and your neighbors and friends will still go to hell. Are you tracking with this? You've got to open your mouth. You have to tell them of the good news of the gospel. And what I've said and it's clear: point number one, you've got to share first the bad news. And the bad news is that sin is going to require some kind of just response from a holy God. But the good news is you don't have to incur that.

So open your mouth. I know you're not equal to the task, neither was Paul, neither are we. But unlike so many, we don't peddle the word of God for profit. It isn't about us. For them, I know in the first century, it's all about making a buck because the preachers were the best-paid people of their day. Ha. Things have changed.

But he said, "We're not doing it for money." And by the way, for us, we shouldn't be doing it for our own advantage either, right? It's not about our reputation. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God. If you want some directions, here it comes: "with sincerity." Just be sincere.

"Oh, I gotta go learn a big outline and I gotta try and get some kind of method down and memorize all those verses." It'd be good for you to memorize those verses, but just go in sincerity and tell them you care enough about them to worry about where they're going to be a hundred years from now. You care about them. Be sincere. Be accurate, but be sincere.

And then you will be like Paul was to these people, like men sent from God. Do you think your workplace, your neighborhood, the parents on your kid's soccer team, do you think they need somebody sent from God to tell them there's an ark available, there's a big flood coming, this one's by fire? Get on the ark. I think God would like to send some people to every sphere that's represented by all the people in this room.

And you could be that person. Just be sincere, speak up, get over the fact that you're not worthy and neither am I to be talking about a perfect God. I realize that. But open your mouth anyway and with sincerity tell them, "Man, you need to get right with God."

I'm not trying to please you with the message. It's not about, "Hey, Pastor, that was a great message. Made me feel good." I'm not trying to make you feel good. I'm not trying to please you with it. My job as a herald or a conduit of God's message is just to be accurate.

I want to be sincere. Hopefully, I've passed the sincerity test. I'm sincere about this. But it's the truth and I gotta share it with you. Other pastors, they want to skip over this, rip it out, they don't want to preach the bad news. Fine. I want to be faithful and give you the message.

And you know what? You've got the same choice that I've got. Am I going to go out to try and be popular, be liked, keep my job, be a great friend, win the employee of the year award at my work? I don't know what you're trying to do. But if you're trying to be a representative of Christ or, as he puts it, a servant of Christ, then you're going to have to speak up and speak the truth. You've got to say what it is and not distort it.

I want you to know, brothers, the gospel I preached is not something I made up. It's not something man made up. I didn't receive it from any man. I wasn't taught it. Rather, I received it by the revelation from Jesus Christ. 27 books of the New Testament, apostolic period, here's the faith once for all delivered to the saints. We've got this message now encapsulated. You can say it's not true, but you'd better do your homework before you dismiss the book.

But once we look at it and we say this is a revelation from God, this bears the marks of divine inspiration, then we stand back and say, "What does it say?" And you know what it says? Warning, warning, warning! The world is going to be punished by God. But you know what? The grace of God has extended to you a ramp that leads right up into a safe spot. It's called the shadow of the cross. The Old Testament, the biological salvation, it was called the ark.

And if you would put your trust in Christ, if you would throw yourself on his mercy, if you would repent of your sins, he can fix the problem right now. And if you've got it fixed, I think you and I would do well to start worrying about the people in our family and start worrying about the people in our workplace, the people we hang out with, the people we rub shoulders with all week long and say, "I'm concerned about you." And with sincerity, I just want to say, where are you going to be a hundred years from now?

We can twist it, we can contort it, but if we do, we do it to our own peril. We've said that a million different ways. Thomas Jefferson, who back in 1781, didn't take a pastor, didn't take a theologian to come up with this simple observation. He had just listed... as a matter of fact, if you want to see these words, you can go to the Jefferson Memorial, they're inscribed on the wall.

After having spoken of God's truth and God's gifts, he says, "These are not violated but with the wrath of God." In other words, if you want to throw away God's truth, if you want to violate the scriptures, he said, then you're going to get God's wrath. And he says this, "I tremble for my country when I reflect on the fact that he is just." He says, "and that God's justice cannot sleep forever."

Even Thomas Jefferson realized we are in a period of God's grace, but his patience will run out. And at one point he is going to call the world to accountability. The question is twofold: Are you ready? Are you prepped? Are you on the ark? And secondarily, what are you doing to bring a few people on board with you?

And I've said this a million times, let's get our work done and go home. If we can get people on this thing and fill up the kingdom and get the last seat on the ark filled, we get to get out of here and we get to go to a place that is filled with righteousness, no violence, no corruption. And that's the hope of the Bible. It's not a fairy tale, it's not a fantasy. If it is, let's all quit and do something else. We can figure out some other way to keep our kids off drugs. This is not what it's about. It's about getting right with a holy God.

Let's pray. God, help us to even as simply as Jefferson said back in 1781, that we need to be the kinds of people that recognize that the time of peace and the time of not seeing your justice in this world is simply a reminder that you're patient.

But ultimately there will be a day of reckoning. And even like Jefferson said, if we just contemplate your justice, it should make us tremble. If we believe it, if we have faith that this is true... and God, we know that your justice is not going to sleep forever. So get us ready, God. One day the door will close.

As we've already seen multiple times in the book of Hebrews, today is the day of salvation, now's the time. Today if we would hear his voice, we should not harden our hearts. We ought to get right with you. There are people here that haven't done that, God, and I know there's got to be. I pray that you'd bring them right now across that line so that they can leave this place with a confidence that they are right with their Maker, to be at peace with you. That's what they need.

And then God, for those of us that think we know for sure that we've got it, we're sure, we're sure, then God, I pray we'd get serious about our tasks of being your representatives in this world. God, loosen our lips this week. Stop... get us over this whole excuse factory of "I'm just not worthy" or "it's my life." Help us, God, to be as we've seen in the scripture today, people that are willing to herald the message that people have the grace of God available to them.

We just need to respond to that. God, work in people's lives around us and let them hear the message and may they recognize that the message we bring is a fragrance of life for them. Make that a reality for us and let us weather the difficulty of having people that say, "I don't want anything to do with it." I know that's hard. I know that hurts our feelings. Help us to get over it, God, so that we can stand up for you in this world this week. In Jesus' name we pray. Come quickly, Lord. Amen.

Dave Drewry: A motivating challenge to listen, act, and share the warnings God has given. It's a message called *Believing All of God's Promises About the Future*. And you're listening to Focal Point with Mike Fabarez and a series titled *Ambitious Faith*.

Anything you want to revisit is waiting for you at focalpointradio.org. And while you're at our site, make sure to grab this month's featured resource: it's *The Journals of Jim Elliot*, a man whose name became known around the world after the tribe he devoted himself to reaching with the gospel ended his life.

Elliot's faith and reflections are a perfect demonstration of ambitious faith. Pick up your copy of *The Journals of Jim Elliot* when you make a donation today. Call us at 888-320-5885 or donate online at focalpointradio.org. Or send your donation by mail by writing to us at Focal Point, PO Box 2850, Laguna Hills, California, 92654. And now Pastor Mike has a special announcement.

Pastor Mike Fabarez: Thanks, Dave. I'd like to invite you to join me September 19th through the 26th, 2026, on a Christian cruise through New England and Canada. We'll sail Holland America's *Zaandam*, known for its elegance and exceptional hospitality, to historic cities like Boston, Halifax, and Quebec City.

We'll gather for devotional times in God's word, followed by thought-provoking Bible teaching throughout our journey. Grammy-winning musicians Keith and Kristyn Getty will lead us in worship. You'll enjoy the stunning autumn landscapes as we explore charming coastal villages, all while building friendships with like-minded believers. It's a unique opportunity to deepen your faith and see some of the most beautiful scenery on the eastern seaboard. Space is limited, so don't wait to sign up. Secure your cabin today at focalpointradio.org.

Dave Drewry: Well, whether it's the pressing deadlines, the long hours, or a difficult boss, sometimes work can seem more like a curse than a blessing. Tomorrow, Pastor Mike Fabarez discusses God's view of work, retirement, and rest. I'm Dave Drewry inviting you to join us for an employee's edition of *Ask Pastor Mike*, Friday, here on Focal Point.

Pastor Mike Fabarez: Hi, Pastor Mike here. God's word promises it'll never return void. So I wonder how is God's word moving in your heart right now? Drop us a line. Let us know. We'd love to hear from you. We'd love to be praying for you here. Just go to focalpointradio.org. And then be sure to join us again tomorrow right here as we continue to explore the depths of scripture. We'll see you then.