“EIGHT SOULS WERE SAVED BY WATER”
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 Pet. 3:20). Eight souls! Just eight? If the Bible is right, and it most assuredly is, that verse is rather revealing. How many people lived at the time? Don’t know but approximately over one million. Again, I have no idea but it doesn’t matter because however many there were, they were lost. Recently in a restaurant the observation was made as to how many saved people would have been there. Very few, if any, other than our group. What a revealing verse. Here are some thoughts.
Noah was a preacher of righteousness. The scripture say, “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly” (2 Pet. 2:5). Noah preached over 100 years yet only eight were saved. We must continue today to carry out the great commission (Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15).
God is longsuffering. This means God is patient. God is merciful. It’s everlasting (Ps. 100:5). We often wonder why God continues to let this earth stand with all the wickedness that is in the world. God loved us so much that he gave his son to die (Jn. 3:16) that we can be saved. Human mentality says, “I’d zap’um all today.” God’s mentality is patience and love. The word waited is significant. God waited! God is waiting today.
Only eight souls were saved. This will show you the power of Satan and of evil. The bible de-scribes the time of Noah as very wicked by saying, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continual-ly” (Gen. 6:5). Over one hundred years of preaching and only eight were saved. Never underestimate the power of the devil. The Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the dev-il, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Folks have this idea, “oh, I can stop anytime I choose.” You can, but the devils goal is to keep you from choosing that option.
Look at the word “few”. We find that word in another place in the Bible. Note Jesus Sermon on the Mount when he said, “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” (Mt. 7:13-14). “…few there be that find it.” Jesus also said, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Lk. 13:24). They make the choice not to enter the strait way.
“Eight souls were saved by water.” Peter continues with these words, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). As they reject-ed Noah, so many today reject Jesus and refuse to be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
LARRY