Genesis 2:5 states that in the beginning it did not rain, but a mist would rise every day to water the garden.
We have no mention, that I can recall, of rain before the events of the biblical flood. For this reason, I stated in last week's column that Noah's world knew not about rain.
Let's suppose that rain and other natural disasters and events had occurred. That makes Noah's preaching concerning the coming rain in a flood even more meaningful. If they had indeed seen small floods and mudslides, they knew of the capability of them happening again.
According to Romans 1:20, because of these natural things that showed a sampling of God's power, the people of that generation were "without excuse" because their actions were against God Himself.
Today, we preach against sin, and attempt to let people know that there is an ark of safety called salvation.
Many do not believe that God is calling them to a life of His righteousness, and reject the notion of impending judgment.
We are without excuse. God's Word warns us, and nature exemplifies it.
There will be judgment — some here, some in the hereafter.
Prayerfully, judgment here will help us to correct ourselves and seek Him before judgment there. My brothers and sisters, believers in the faith, do not sit there with glee gladly pronouncing judgment for their sins and the sins of this great nation. We despise sin, even in ourselves, but we must love and be ready to help those that sin.
1 Peter 4:17 teaches us that judgment should begin in the church.
Unless we are corrected and softened by Him, and also healed of His correction, we cannot help others to live a right life.
Warn? Yes.
Preach? Yes.
Love enough to do all that we can, even stating for God to break our hearts for those around us? By all means.
Let judgment begin in us and work through us, that the glory of Christ can be magnified in the love we have for all others.
We, too, are without excuse.
The Rev. Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Ministries, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., in Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HELMS: Let judgment begin in us and work through us