The Ark of Safety

                           The Ark of Safety

                                  Genesis 6-9

By the time Noah was born, the world was filled with evil.

Every vile sin one could imagine created social upheaval.

Moral pollution ruled man’s heart and spread throughout the earth,

Wickedness flourished continuously, grew stronger with each new birth.

God decided to cleanse the world of man and his sin disposition,

But Noah and family would be spared because of their godly condition.

God summoned Noah, spoke to his heart; gave him a strong commission

Telling him how to build an ark for a very important mission.

“450 shall be its length; its width shall be 75 feet.

If you make it 45 high, the blueprints you shall meet.

Prepare it inside with three strong decks, store up plenty of food,

Make sure you build some living space for your loved ones too.”

Noah listened and obeyed the Lord constructing as commanded.

As he built he preached to man with warnings severe and candid.

Shortly after the ark was complete, animals came two by two.

Noah moved his family in announcing man’s time was through.

As Noah’s family walked the ramp, the worldlings laughed at them

And just before the lightening flashed, the Lord God shut them in.

Right then upon the seventh day, the rain began to fall,

The fountains of the deep broke forth; then water covered all.

For forty days and through the nights, the rains continually fell.

There was safety inside the ark but outside was living hell.

All flesh died that lived on earth, every animal and creeping thing.

Even the mountains were submerged, couldn’t see a living thing.

For forty days and forty nights rain beat upon the boat.

They spent one hundred fifty more while in the ark afloat.

Finally the day arrived when all could leave the ark.

Man and animals came outside to give the world a new start.

God blessed Noah and his sons, gave them laws to guide.

He promised that water never again would be a world-wide tide.

Whenever it rains, we need not fear. This is how we know:

God reminds us of His promise in the colors of His rainbow.

Centuries later God acted again when He sent another ark.

Jesus became the ark of salvation to all who give their heart.

Have you entered the ark of safety? Have you trusted Jesus alone?

This is how to be forgiven, assured of a heavenly home.

                 

                © Copyright George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

Cain's Wasted Life

                                Cain’s Wasted Life

                                         Genesis 4

Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden never to live there again.

For all their years they would remember the perfection that once had been.

The entrance to the beautiful garden by an angel now was sealed.

Adam lived a more difficult life laboring in the field.

God was faithful, forgiving their sin; all was not forlorn.

They pressed on following Him and soon two sons were born.

Both of them chose a vocation, learning to do their part,

But when it came to respecting God, Cain had a stubborn heart.

Adam was careful to teach his boys about the worship God planned,

How it required a sacrifice that foreshadowed salvation’s plan.

Abel respectfully offered a lamb showing he was devout,

Cain resisted what God had said offering grain and sprout.

God accepted Abel’s gift; Cain’s offering was quickly rejected.

God warned Cain of sin’s intent and said he should not accept it.

But Cain allowed his anger to boil; with evil he was filled.

In senseless rage he struck his brother; that’s how Abel was killed.

Later when God confronted Cain, he responded with lying pout.

God said to him, “Why do you lie? Your brother’s blood cries out!

You can no longer till this soil. Abundance is changed to dearth.

You shall become a vagabond wandering across the earth.”

The Lord God put a seal on Cain so he would not be killed.

His was a life now lived in vain, miserable, unfulfilled.

Instead of showing honor to God, he chose to fight and yell.

His choices led to persistent sin on the road that leads to hell.

What is learned from this passage today? What should be our reaction?

Don’t let anger lead you astray; be godly in all your actions.

The spirit of Cain is the sin of rebellion, a type of sin’s strong leaven,

But if you surrender your all to Christ, you’ll live with Him in heaven.

I wish I could state I have not failed, that love was ever my anchor.

But truthfully friends, too many times I lifted my voice in rancor.

If this is descriptive of you my friend (I suspect it is likely true),

Turn for forgiveness to Jesus our Lord, the One who died for you.

You cannot change the sins of the past, but you don’t have to live like Cain.

Follow the Lord with all your heart, through Christ the flesh restrain.

Fill your heart with God’s cleansing Word; your life will be transformed.

Live your remaining days on earth as one who is spiritually formed.

© Copyright George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

                         The Entrance of Sin into the World

                                                 Genesis 3

Adam and Eve lived in the Garden where all was peaceful and bright.

All of creation reflected God’s splendor.  It was a beautiful sight.

In the Garden were two special trees: the first was the Tree of Life.

The fruit of the tree gave health and strength to the very first man and wife.

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was also there to see.

Of it God said, “You shall not eat” and they were quick to agree.

Bountiful fruits and vegetables grew from ground and bush and tree

They simply had to make their choice from ample variety.

Now the serpent was a cunning foe hating the God of Creation.

He, who had failed to usurp the Most High, was filled with raging frustration.

He wanted this Garden for his own; looked around with jealous eyes.

His devious strategy suggested to Eve that God was a God of lies.

He came to Eve with voice so smooth suggesting forbidden fruit.

Yes, evil lurked to devour Eve and deception was its root.

He said to her, “Go ahead and try it. I promise you will not die.

God doesn’t want you to be like Him. What He told you is a lie.”

Eve examined the appealing fruit deciding to partake.

She took the fruit to Adam exclaiming, “Look what I just ate!

It’s delicious. You should try it. I think you’ll enjoy the taste.”

So Adam also ate the fruit and sealed mankind’s fate.

Instantly the man and wife knew something drastic had transpired.

Physically and spiritually naked, their innocence had expired.

They sewed leaves to cover themselves and tried to hide away

But sin cannot be hidden from God when man has gone astray.

All of us know the story’s end, the result of sin’s dark stain.

Eve would give birth amidst great pain and Adam would toil in vain.

We’ve learned the product of sin’s grand deed destroys the perfection of life,

Steals the good God desired for us, and brings us sadness and strife.

But hidden within the serpent’s rebuke is hope for man’s sad estate.

There would be a Savior to come, the sin problem to abate.

This first reference to our Lord and to His salvation plan

Is the beginning of hope restored for fallen, sinful man.

What about you? Do you understand? Have you placed your trust in Christ?

His death on the cross was God’s clear plan to fully pay sin’s price.

It’s not our good works but His death that counts; in Him salvation is found.

No sin is too great for His grace to surmount, for you to be heaven bound.

The Account of Creation

   The Account of Creation

              Genesis 1 and 2

In the beginning our awesome God created the heavens and earth.

No animal life had yet been made, nothing had given birth.

First God said, “Let there be light” and the darkness flew away.

The darkness God defined as night and the light He defined as day.

Then He created the heavenly expanse giving it shape and form

Commanding the waters to leave the land making that the norm.

So on the first day God made light; on the second He made land.

He was pleased with what He formed by the Word of His command.

On day three He spoke the word; vegetation covered the earth.

Grass and trees and herbs appeared with seeds ensuring new birth.

On day four the LORD created the sun, the stars, and moon.

When the moon passed through the sky, day would be coming soon.

On day five the seas were filled with an abundance of living creatures.

Even today we’re still amazed at their various forms and features.

With infinite wisdom He created the birds that fly throughout the sky

Telling them to find their mate, be fruitful and multiply.

On day six animals were formed all across the land.

Then they watched as God took dirt and fashioned the first man.

This first man ruled creation and though created from sod,

He was destined for special relation, made in the image of God.

All this took place in the first six days. The angels were impressed.

Thus God formed a pattern to stay: the seventh day is for rest.

This truth has stood through all the years giving us health and peace,

For as we worship the Lord we revere, worry and stress are released.

One final Gift God gave to man: He brought to Adam his Eve,

A beautiful helpmate created for him; precious beyond belief.

Did you notice that Eve was made from a rib in Adam’s side?

There Jesus suffered a wound as well that we may become His bride.

What a plan! What a purpose! What a glorious deed!

First God created and then He died in order to meet our need.

Surely He is worthy of the praise we freely give.

Let us therefore proclaim His name by the manner in which we live.

© Copyright George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

The Origin of Man

                                  The Origin of Man
                                       Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God created,” is a truth man placed on trial.

Considering the Bible to be outdated, he lives in confusing denial.
The scholars with all their silly schemes have left him so befuddled,
He now believes his origin began in a slimy primeval puddle.

Once an amoeba, then a frog, man made it to monkey status,
Must not have been many leopards around, for certainly they would’ve had us
From monkey status we evolved in various forms and stages.
The theory of evolution asserts it took a billion ages.


Many there are who believe this lie, which came by the devil’s hand.
He wants you to reject your God on high and ignore His saving plan.
Since all truth begins with God and all of creation is His,
One must place their trust in Him believing that He is. 

Reasons to believe are many, but let me share just two:
He has given convincing truths to show His Word is true.
The first truth I want to cite is the argument from design.
Consider how the earth revolves around the sun on time.



If we circled the sun today just one degree too close,
This planet where we live and play would look like burned up toast.
But if the orbits were farther out even by one degree,
This frozen planet would be devoid of animal, plant or tree.


Another reason to believe is the uniqueness of the Bible,
For God recorded prophecies proven to be reliable.
As time passed they were fulfilled, not one was torn asunder,
A record so astonishing it ought to make you wonder.

Where else do you find such evidence? Not in the writings of Homer,
Nor in the words of Nostradamus—some of his were boners.
Only in scripture can you find predictions that pass the test
Proving that His words of truth rise far above the rest. 

I pray you carefully ponder the curious origin of man;
I think it’s clear for all to see God carried out His plan.
He’s Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer supreme,
Forgiver, Restorer, Caregiver extreme. 

This loving God who created you in your mother’s womb
Has an eternal purpose beyond the grave or tomb.
He calls you now to walk with Him trusting in His care,
He longs for you to live with Him in glory beyond compare.

                © Copyright George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

Are You Connected to the Vine?

Which God do You Serve?

"I am the vine; you are the branches. (John 15:5)

Do all roads lead to heaven? Now that’s an important question.
Many there are who walk through life with that mistaken impression.
Believing all paths lead to God, they search until they find
The path that appeals the most to them—body, soul, or mind.

Some like to choose the Sweetie God, the one who looks aside;
Who doesn’t require a transformed life, who lets all sinners slide.
They like to enjoy the fruits of the flesh without a shred of guilt.
Having no sense of sin or shame, they plunge in to the hilt.

Some like to choose the Candy God, the one who will make you rich.
The benevolent, permissive God who responds to their greedy pitch.
They want a God who approves their excess, who never thinks it’s funny
That immature, greedy, indulged saints think only of fun and money.

Some like to choose the Big Mean God, the one with a thousand rules.
No wonder people look at the church and think it’s full of fools.
Don’t think for a moment God is defined by creating a list to follow.
Those who try eventually find their life is empty and hollow.

Some like to choose the Nature God—you find Him in the trees.
They save the whales and spotted owls but let the humans freeze.
They invent fancy tales of world-wide disaster and tell it around the globe.
They’re often led in foolishness by those in scholastic robes.

Some like to choose the Hedonistic God; they live a life without checks.
They devote themselves to what feels good including illicit sex.
They abort their babies for convenience sake without a shred of regret.
How sad it is when the baby’s mom becomes its greatest threat!

There isn’t a person described above who knows the real God.
The Creator, Redeemer, Sovereign Lord who walked upon this sod.
The God loves the world so much, He bore judgment in our place.
It is He in whom we place our trust, for salvation comes only by grace.

This is the God, the only God; there is no other to save you.
This is the life in which to choose, so choose in this lifetime he gave you.
Today is the day of your salvation, now is the acceptable time.
Let God’s glory fall on your life; get connected to the vine.

© Copyright George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

When You Think of Christmas Gifts

Our Savior wasn't received as a King
On that very first Christmas morn.
No elegant robes, only homemade clothes
The infant's body adorned.

No fame, no trumpet, no grand speech.
No hint that He the world would teach.
No one noble anointed His head;
He lay in a manger instead of a bed.

The FULLNESS of God resided within
The infant Christ born without sin.
Filled with Glory, Truth, and Light
Born that lost sinners might receive sight.

Born to die that mankind might live;
Born to pardon and forgive.
Born to bear the sin and shame,
Dying my death, carrying my blame.

He ascended the hill bearing the cross,
Nails pierced flesh, all hope now lost.
Enduring the pain, each breath diminished,
He cried out to God, and then it was finished.

Laid in the grave, His flesh now dead;
Wrapped in a shroud from toe to head,
He conquered death and after three days,
Rose from the dead and abandoned the grave.

 He lives today and forevermore,
Salvation's lost hope has been restored.
 Eternal Life, purpose and joy
Triumphs over death destroyed.

 Christ alone gives eternal life,
Hope for heaven and absence from strife.
Salvation heals our sin-sick soul,
Assures us of heaven and life that's whole.

When you think of Christmas gifts this year
Think of Him whose life so dear
Was given to bring salvation true
That the promise of heaven might include you.

© Copyright 2014 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved