# 74 The Stench of Violence

The Book of Genesis Day 74 Ge 6:10 And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. The word corrupt shows up three times here and the Hebrew meaning of the word is decay. Have you ever smelled decaying flesh?. Have you ever driven by or walked by road kill? I remember living near a rendering plant as a child. A rendering plant would take dead animals and render them into certain products. When the wind was right, the odors of the dead rotting corrupted animals would invade our senses. It would even invade any clothing that may have been hung on the wash line to dry. It is a stench that I have never forgotten! This is what was wafting up to the nostrils of God as He looked upon His creation. His perfect creation had become rotted and bloated with sin. It had become tainted and filled with violence. The blood of Abel and countless others had soaked the ground and stained the foliage. Even the animals had gotten into the act. (Jurassic Park did a good job of portraying this violence of animals) The whole earth reeked of death. How does one clean up such a mess? You use water. Lots and lots of pressurized water. (The fountains of the deep mentioned in Gen 8:2) It’s funny (well not really) but no matter when I study this portion of Scripture, I don’t have to look far for an act of violence committed on this earth to remind me that we are indeed living in a time similar to that of the days of Noah. The most recent episode occurring just yesterday (as I write this) in Las Vegas Nevada where 59 people were killed and over 500 wounded by a lone gunman. We have been living in the “last days” since the ascension of Jesus and these tragic events have always served as reminders to all of us to repent for the time is near! I don’t say this to frighten you, if you are in Christ, you have nothing to fear. But please understand the urgency of the hour as the Apostles did. Pray, witness, and live for Jesus as never before. God cleansed the earth with water in the days of Noah, the next time He will cleanse with the final fire. The judgment is next! In the meantime, remember, we are to be the salt of the earth, the preservative that stems the rotting of flesh. Where and how might we leave the shaker and apply ourselves in this rotting world today! Reflect: What’s the worst thing that you have ever smelled? What’s the most difficult thing you have ever cleaned? What’s the difference between cleansing with water and cleansing with fire? How will the new earth be prepared by God? (2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. Where will those believers who are alive on this day be? (1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. Pray: Lord, that first cleansing was temporary, sin still remained in the world, help us to be ready for the final cleansing of fire through faith in Jesus!