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Bright and shining lights

Bright and shining lights in the Bible #14

Scripture: “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went,” Hebrews 11:8.

Stream or download Bright and shining lights in the Bible #14

Here again, we see that faith played a central role in the life of a great man of God. Abraham was a truly great man. He was called the ‘Friend of God’, James 2:3. He was called the ‘father of us all’, Romans 4:16. If we believe the truth that was revealed to Abraham we are born again of that truth as he was.
The story of Abraham fills Genesis chapters 11 to 25. That is an indication of the importance of the man.

1. Abraham’s spiritual journey began with a call. 

  • It was a call from God, Gen 12:1.
  • It was a call to leave his old home, Gen 12:1.
  • He was called out of idolatry, Josh 24:2 – “They served other gods.”

Bright and shining lights in the Bible #13

Scripture: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith,” Heb 11:7.

Stream or download Bright and shining lights in the Bible #13


We continue our study of this verse which tells us about the faith of Noah, one of God’s bright and shining lights.

1. He obeyed God and thereby saw his family saved. Noah warned them as he did all around who would listen to him. “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: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 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. His family was his chief concern – “Prepared an ark to the saving of his house”. Faith in Christ has not just a personal impact, it touches upon others also. John 1:40-42. Acts 16:31-33.

2.He inherited that which God has promised to believers. He became a ‘son of God’, John 1:12 and thereby an heir, Gal 4:7. Those that believe God have a wonderful inheritance awaiting them. Heed these verses, Matthew 25:34, Acts 26:15-18, 1 Peter 1:3-4, 5:4.

3. His works, born of his faith, condemned the world. His believing God and acting in obedience to Him condemned those who did not, despite the warnings given them, see 1 Pet 3:18-20, quoted already.

This is one of the reasons why Christians are hated by the world. See the Saviour’s words to the unbelieving Jews of His day in Matthew 12:41-42. “The people of Nineveh believed God,” Jonah 3:5.

Bright and shining lights in the Bible #12

Scripture: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith,” Heb 11:7.

Stream or download Bright and shining lights in the Bible #12


We have arrived in a new world now that we have moved to the times of Noah. The great flood which covered the whole world had taken place. “And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered,” Gen 7:19-20.

Despite what men say, the whole earth was flooded and there is evidence still of that having happened for seashells and fossils of fish have been found high up in many mountains of the world, even in the Himalayas! The Bible is true despite the foolish notions of men!

1. God issued a warning of coming judgment to Noah. In like manner, God warns today of coming judgment. “But when he (John/Baptist) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matt 3:7.

2. It is right to fear God’s wrath. Back then, the majority rejected God’s warning. So it is still today! “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,” Matt 7:13-14. There was only ONE door into ark!

3. Noah started doing that for which no one else could see any reason. “ . . being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark . . .” We speak of and believe in that which no man has seen! Thus they reject what we say.
There was no sea where Noah built his ark. He has no need of a boat! The ark did not look like any boat that men may have built. It was like a very long box! That is what the word  ‘ark’ means.