Noah Was Right!
Let us continue speaking about the account of Noah’s flood.
“For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth. The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered. The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than fifteen cubits.” (Genesis 7:17–20)
The Bible says that the flood covered the earth for forty days, and all the high mountains under the heavens were submerged. Let us calculate this: forty days, each day with 24 hours—meaning 960 hours of continuous rain. The highest mountain on earth is Mount Everest in the Himalayas, standing at 8,848 meters. To submerge this mountain in 960 hours, it would have to rain nearly 10 meters of water every hour. This would be an unimaginably terrifying deluge. I believe only in Noah’s days did such a flood occur—not only did rain fall from the sky, but even the springs of the great deep burst forth.
Human beings had no possible way to escape this flood. From the moment the flood began, it did not last merely a day or two; the water continued rising at a rate of 10 meters per hour for forty days. I believe most people would die after being in water for even one day. After raining for forty days, it took more than a year for the water to recede.
Families were swept away by the flood, friends and beloved wives were swept away as well. In order to survive, people climbed desperately toward the mountains and cried out in unison:
“Noah was right! Noah was right! Why didn’t we listen to his warning?”
At that moment, their hearts were filled with grief. Eventually, they died in deep regret. Why did they regret? Because they ignored Noah’s warning and insisted they were correct, and thus perished in eternal destruction with bitter remorse.
A long time ago, our church held a summer retreat upstream of the Geum River. During the event, a flood suddenly struck and the water level rose rapidly. By evening, the river water began creeping toward our tent grounds. At that time, about 2,500 believers were camping by the riverside, listening to the Word. As the water continued to rise, the pastors, evangelists, and I were deeply anxious.
Night fell, and throughout the night the rain poured relentlessly. The water inched toward the tents. Just when the flood was about to reach the tents closest to the riverbank, dawn began to break. We stayed awake the entire night. At daybreak, just as we prepared to move the tents to higher ground, the brother in charge of monitoring the water level said, “The water is going down.” Hearing this, we were immensely relieved. The water had nearly reached the tents, leaving no place to escape, while over 2,500 participants slept peacefully—yet our hearts were full of urgency and fear.
God repeatedly issued warnings, telling all people they could freely enter the ark to escape the coming judgment. What must have been the feelings of those who ultimately perished? God used Noah to continuously warn them of the approaching flood judgment, even giving them seven more days of grace—but they did not listen. When the terrible rain finally came pouring down, what would they have felt? Their hearts must have been filled with regret, sorrow, and anguish before being swallowed by the flood. I believe the scene on the day of the final judgment will be similar.
“Do you believe in Jesus? Have your sins been forgiven?”
“Have all your sins been washed white as snow?”
“Are you a born-again Christian?”
People do not like hearing such questions—because they are not yet prepared to meet Jesus. If someone clearly has their sins forgiven, they would joyfully answer, “Yes!” But those who do not have forgiveness feel burdened by such questions, so they avoid them. Yet even if they don’t want to hear them, they must have their sins forgiven and become holy; otherwise, they cannot escape judgment.
Just as Noah urged the people to enter the ark before judgment came, I earnestly urge all of you:
If anyone among you has not yet received the forgiveness of sins, come before Jesus Christ. Cast aside your own thoughts and believe that the precious blood Christ shed has eternally washed away your sins—making them white as snow and cleansing your heart.
You believe Jesus was crucified, but still cannot believe your sins have been washed away—is that right?
You know Jesus was judged for our sins, but still cannot believe your sins are cleansed—is that right?
You think you still have sin, correct?
You still do not dare say you are righteous, correct?
This is not perfect faith.
One must be able to say:
“I have no more sin. It isn’t that I never sin, but although I sin, all my sins have been washed away. Therefore, I am justified and sanctified.”
This is a true saint.
Not merely saying it with the mouth—but truly believing it in the heart. Only when the heart believes this is one forgiven. Forgiveness must happen in the heart by faith. If someone says they believe in Jesus yet still thinks, “I still have sin in my heart,” still suffers under sin, still feels tormented because of sin—that person has not yet truly stood on faith.
Just as many people gnashed their teeth and perished in pain during Noah’s flood, the day Jesus returns, many will likewise weep, wail, and perish in anguish. If one does not repent and receive forgiveness before Jesus, when that day comes, they will face judgment with bitter regret.
When the judgment began, many people finally believed Noah’s words were true:
“Ah! Grandfather Noah was right! The flood he spoke about really came! Building the ark was truly the right thing!”
They understood only then—but it was too late.
Many people only realize after going to hell that the blood Jesus shed on the cross had already forgiven their sins—but by then it is far too late. Before standing before the judgment seat of God, all our sins must be washed away; we must become holy, lacking nothing, and stand before God with confidence.
Today, are you prepared to meet Jesus?
Have your sins been washed white as snow?
Are you ready—whenever Jesus comes?
I sincerely hope each of you examines yourselves carefully, so that you will not perish and regret like the people in Noah’s days.
I too struggled painfully in sin for a long time, but I believed in the precious blood of the cross. I realized that although I had sinned, the power of Jesus’ blood—shed for me on the cross—is far greater than my sin. The power of His blood washed all my sins away without leaving a trace. I have been justified and sanctified; I can now stand boldly before God. This is the grace I have received.
No matter what sins you have committed, no matter what kind of life you have lived—these things are not the real issue. As long as you come before Jesus Christ and have all your sins washed away, then no matter what sins you have committed, they are not a problem anymore.
I hope all of you will come before Jesus Christ, have all your sins washed clean, and joyfully wait for the Lord—so that on that day you may enjoy everlasting happiness with Him.
挪亚是对的！
我们继续讲一下有关挪亚洪水的话语。
“洪水泛滥在地上四十天，水往上涨，把方舟从地上漂起。水势浩大，在地上大大地往上涨，方舟在水面上漂来漂去。水势在地上极其浩大，天下的高山都淹没了。水势比山高过十五肘，山岭都淹没了。”（创7：17~20）
说洪水泛滥在地上四十天，天下的高山都淹没了。我们计算一下，四十天，一天是24小时，也就是下了960个小时的雨。世界上最高的山是喜马拉雅山，高8848米，在960小时内，要想淹没这座山，一小时要下差不多10米深的水，可以说是骇人听闻的洪水。我觉得，可能也就挪亚时代才有这样的洪水，不只是天上下雨，地上的泉源也往上涌。
人类绝对没有能躲避这洪水的道路。从发洪水起，不是发了一两天，而是以每小时涨水10米的速度持续了四十天。我觉得，大部分人在水里呆一天就会死。下了四十天的雨，用了一年多的时间才干掉。
家人被洪水冲走了，朋友、亲爱的妻子也被洪水冲走了。为了求生，他们纷纷向山上攀爬，并异口同声地喊道：“挪亚是对的！挪亚是对的！我们为何没有听从他的警告？”此时，他们心中充满了悲痛。最终，他们在深深的懊悔中走向了死亡。为什么懊悔呢？因为他们忽视了挪亚的警示，坚信自己是正确的，从而在痛悔中走向了永远的灭亡。
很久以前，我们教会在锦江上游举办了一次夏季修养会。活动期间，正值洪水暴发，江水迅速上涨。傍晚时分，江水开始向帐篷营地蔓延。当时，约有2500名信徒在江边扎营，聆听圣经话语。随着水位不断上升，我和几位牧师、传道士感到极度紧张。夜幕降临，深夜中雨水持续倾泻不止，水位逐渐逼近帐篷。
当洪水即将涨到距离江边最近的帐篷时，天色逐渐破晓。那一夜，我们彻夜未眠。黎明时分，正当我们准备将帐篷移至高处时，负责监测水位的弟兄说：“水位开始下降了。”听到这一消息，我们感到无比欣慰。当时，江水正逐渐逼近帐篷，根本无处可逃，而2500多名参与者仍在熟睡，负责这一切的我们内心却是焦急万分。
神多次发出警告，告知所有人可以免费进入方舟，以躲避即将到来的审判。那些最终未能幸免于难的人会是怎样的心情？神通过挪亚不断提醒他们即将来临的洪水审判，并在最后给予了七天的宽限期，但他们并未听从神的话语。当可怕的暴雨倾盆而下时，他们的心情会怎样呢？他们心中肯定充满了悔恨、悲伤与痛苦，最终被洪水吞没。我想，在末日审判之时，情形也将与此相似。
“你相信耶稣，罪得赦免了吗？”
“所有的罪都洗得像雪一样白了吗？”
“你是重生的基督徒吗？”
人们都不想听这样的提问。因为还没有做好与耶稣见面的准备。如果是明确罪得赦免的人，当听到这样的提问时，会无比开心地回答：“是的！”但没有罪得赦免的人，面对这样的提问会感到负担，所以不想听。但就算不想听，也得罪得赦免，得成为圣洁。如果不这样，就无法躲避审判。
就像面对审判，挪亚劝人们进入方舟一样，我也恳切地劝大家。如果各位当中还有没罪得赦免的人，那么请来到耶稣基督面前，扔掉你们的想法，相信基督流淌的宝血已经把你们的罪永远洗净，洗得像雪一样白，使你们的心得以洁净了。
您相信耶稣被钉死在了十字架上，却还信不起来心里的罪都被洗净了，是吗？您知道耶稣确实为我们的罪接受了审判，却相信不了罪已经被洗净了，是吗？您觉得自己还有罪，是吗？您到现在还不敢说自己是义人，是吗？这不是完全的信心。“我没有罪了。不是不犯罪了，而是虽然犯罪，但都洗净了，所以我成义了，成为圣洁了。”能这样说，才是真正的圣徒。不只是嘴上说说，心里也得这样相信才行。只有心里这样相信，才是罪得赦免的人。得凭信心从心里成就罪得赦免。虽然说是相信耶稣，但认为“我心里还有罪”，还在被罪折磨，为罪痛苦，那么这个人就是还没有完全站立在信心之上的人。
就像挪亚洪水时，很多人咬牙切齿、痛苦地遭到灭亡一样，耶稣再来的那天，也会有很多人咬牙切齿、哀嚎痛哭着走向灭亡。如果没有悔改罪，走到耶稣面前罪得赦免的那一天，那么到了那天，就只能痛悔着接受审判。
当审判开始时，很多人才相信挪亚说的是真的。“啊！挪亚爷爷说的是真的啊！他说会来洪水，是真的啊！造船真的造对了啊！”人们这时候才明白，但悔之晚矣。
很多人下地狱了，才知道耶稣在十字架上流下的宝血赦免了他们罪的事实，但为时已晚。站在神的审判台之前，我们要使所有的罪都洗净，成为圣洁，没有任何缺乏、坦然地走到神面前才行。今天，你们做好迎接耶稣的准备了吗？你们的罪洗得像雪一样白了吗？不管耶稣什么时候来，都已经做好了迎接耶稣的准备了吗？恳切地希望大家好好省察一下自己，不要像挪亚时代的人们那样遭到灭亡，悔恨不已。
我也在罪里挣扎、痛苦了很久，但我相信了十字架的宝血。我明白了，虽然我犯了罪，但比起我犯的罪，为我被钉十字架死去的耶稣宝血的力量更大，宝血的能力把我所有的罪一点不剩地都洗净了。我已经成义、成圣了，可以坦然地站在神面前了，我蒙到了这样的恩典。
不管各位犯了什么样的罪，也不管各位过了什么样的生活，这些都不成问题。只要来到耶稣基督面前，使所有的罪得以洗净，那么不管犯过什么样的罪，都不成问题。希望大家都能来到耶稣基督面前，洗净所有的罪，喜乐地等待着主，到那天享受与主永远同在的幸福。
