Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

As Christians, we know that we should not take the name of the Lord in vain. Often, we even recoil when we hear someone use that all too familiar two word phrase with the name of God, but sadly, there are many Christians who do still often use the name of God in vain! As you surf the net, you have, without doubt, seen the acronym 'OMG' which is short for 'Oh My God'. Many people recognize this as taking the name of the Lord in vain and do not do it. But if you do not use that phrase, or other phrases which still take the name of God in vain, are you guilty?

When we look at the God-head, or the Trinity, we see three distinct parts of God: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each part of the Trinity is equally and fully God. Also, each part of the Trinity has many different names representing the character of God. For example, we often call the Holy Spirit the Comforter. God the Father is known as Jehovah, I Am, etc. Jesus is also known by many names such as the Messiah, The Son, and the Word.

Yes, you read it right, one of the names of Jesus is "The Word".

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Who was in the beginning with God? The Word.  Jesus is the Word!  So, if one says, "Oh My Word" is that one just as guilty as one who would say, "Oh My God?" Are they not both guilty of taking the Lord's name in vain?  

Are you guilty?

Gen 7:11-16 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (12) And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. (13) In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; (14) They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. (15) And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. (16) And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

For a long time, Noah has been working on this ark.  We can all imagine how the people around him would have mocked him saying, "Where is this flood?" Now, however, the mockers are on the outside looking in.  I can imagine they are not mocking now.  In my mind, I can see some of them as they play in the rain.  They had never seen rain but now water was falling from the sky.  I can imagine, as the fountains broke up, that some of them had fear, perhaps realizing everything Noah had told them was true, but it was too late.  When they could have accepted salvation by faith, they rejected it.   Now, they are seeing the impending judgment and it is too late. The door to salvation has closed. 

If we compare Noah's day to our own, we can see a lot of parallels…

Noah was in a day where the people thought on evil continually.  They had little else to do other than to think on evil. Personally, I cannot imagine the evil that must have existed on the earth.  Likewise, today, evil seems to be everywhere around us.  We cannot turn without seeing evil somewhere or take a step without running into someone who rejects God.  Sadly, this is even true within those who call themselves Christians and who to church on a weekly basis.

Noah was a preacher, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, telling people they need to get in.  Even though he preached, even though he warned the people, the world around him did not heed his warning.  When it was time to go into the ark, Noah and his family were the only ones who went in.  Think about it: Noah gave the invitation to countless thousands of people, and only a handful responded! 

Salvation was offered to everyone, but only a few found grace through faith.  It is not recorded, but I can imagine different groups in Noah's day.  Perhaps there was one group that said, "If you pay your offering to me, I'll make sure you're saved."  There may have been another group that said, "We're all basically good people. Surely God will not destroy us all."  But I think the most dangerous one was the group who said, "It's ok, we have time."  I think this may be the devil's best lie: "You have time, wait until later." The devil is still using that lie today!  Again, I can imagine that as the first drops of rain fell, as the wells began to overflow there water, some sat astonished.  Perhaps some ran about trying to gather things up and get to higher ground thinking they could escape.  I can imagine some crying out, "Quick, let's build a boat so we can escape too."  Finally, in my mind's eye, I can see some pounding on the door to the ark, crying, "Let us in, Save us!"  As the waters rose, I have no doubt that people were outside the ark crying out, begging to be let in.  Noah could do nothing.  They had heard his preaching and rejected it.  They had their chance.  Noah and his family were closed in a boat behind a door they could not open if they wanted too.  They were behind a door that the Lord had closed.  Noah could not open it if he wanted too.  

In our day, we are not going to face a flood.  God has promised to never destroy the earth by water again.  However, there is a call going out!  There is a preacher proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.  Just as Noah was saved by his faith, you can be saved too. 

Heb 11:7  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.

Noah had faith in a forthcoming messiah.  The Lord had not come to the earth and purchased salvation for us all yet, nevertheless Noah had faith.  In that faith, Noah obeyed God.  Noah did not build the ark to be saved; he built the ark because he was saved. 

Finally, just as in Noah's day, there is an impending judgment.  We do not know the day or the hour, but we know a judgment is coming.  Soon, God will call his people out of the earth, the earth will see a new round of judgment.  Are you ready?