What must it have been like for Noah to construct the ark? What must it have been like for him to gather the animals (or perhaps God brought them to him)? Every board he cut pronounced: God’s wrath is coming! Every new animal proclaimed: The day is drawing near when this all will be swept away. Every nail he drove announced: God’s judgment against our sin is at hand.
Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Take note: By acting in faith, Noah condemned the world.
Have you ever been mistreated for doing the right thing? Have you ever been ridiculed for choosing to live according to your faith? Have you ever been mocked for simply stating what you believe? Ever wonder why?
When we live our faith it condemns the world.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating that we go around wearing sandwich boards proclaiming, “The End is near!” Nor am I in any way excusing what Fred Phelps and his church in Kansas have done as they spew hatred and bigotry at our servicemen’s funerals, proclaiming that America is under God’s judgment because of homosexuality in our nation.
What I am saying is that darkness and light do not co-exist. The same is true of holiness and sin. When we behave according to our faith, that behavior will push away sin. It will make people feel uncomfortable. Sometimes it makes us feel uncomfortable! Righteous living – living in God’s forgiveness being transformed by His Spirit – shines a spiritual light that exposes the sin that hides in darkness. When that sin is exposes (even if only to that individual) it triggers a response; sometimes anger, sometimes cynicism, sometimes fear or shame, and sometimes repentance.
One of the important verses to take note of in this chapter is v. 16 where it says, “And the Lord shut them in.” It was the Lord who gave the warning. It was the Lord who instructed Noah how to build the ark. It was the Lord who brought the judgment. It was the Lord who closed the door and saved Noah, his family, and the animals.
In this life, we are still, in a sense shut in by the Lord. Through Jesus’ blood we are shut in God’s family, and our sin is shut out. The nails driven into His hands announce God’s judgment for our sin has come, and Jesus paid the price. We are protected by that blood; baptized into His death and living in the hope of His resurrection. Even when we feel completely exposed, persecuted, crushed and abandoned we can look to the cross and know, we are saved, eternally safe, and protected in God’s love.
Father in Heaven, thank you for protecting Noah, his family, and ultimately me. When the things of this world hurt, I sometimes forget that I am protected and that You are my deliverer. Help me to face opposition with courage because You are with me. Use me to extend the hope You have given me in Jesus to others. Amen.
Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Take note: By acting in faith, Noah condemned the world.
Have you ever been mistreated for doing the right thing? Have you ever been ridiculed for choosing to live according to your faith? Have you ever been mocked for simply stating what you believe? Ever wonder why?
When we live our faith it condemns the world.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating that we go around wearing sandwich boards proclaiming, “The End is near!” Nor am I in any way excusing what Fred Phelps and his church in Kansas have done as they spew hatred and bigotry at our servicemen’s funerals, proclaiming that America is under God’s judgment because of homosexuality in our nation.
What I am saying is that darkness and light do not co-exist. The same is true of holiness and sin. When we behave according to our faith, that behavior will push away sin. It will make people feel uncomfortable. Sometimes it makes us feel uncomfortable! Righteous living – living in God’s forgiveness being transformed by His Spirit – shines a spiritual light that exposes the sin that hides in darkness. When that sin is exposes (even if only to that individual) it triggers a response; sometimes anger, sometimes cynicism, sometimes fear or shame, and sometimes repentance.
One of the important verses to take note of in this chapter is v. 16 where it says, “And the Lord shut them in.” It was the Lord who gave the warning. It was the Lord who instructed Noah how to build the ark. It was the Lord who brought the judgment. It was the Lord who closed the door and saved Noah, his family, and the animals.
In this life, we are still, in a sense shut in by the Lord. Through Jesus’ blood we are shut in God’s family, and our sin is shut out. The nails driven into His hands announce God’s judgment for our sin has come, and Jesus paid the price. We are protected by that blood; baptized into His death and living in the hope of His resurrection. Even when we feel completely exposed, persecuted, crushed and abandoned we can look to the cross and know, we are saved, eternally safe, and protected in God’s love.
Father in Heaven, thank you for protecting Noah, his family, and ultimately me. When the things of this world hurt, I sometimes forget that I am protected and that You are my deliverer. Help me to face opposition with courage because You are with me. Use me to extend the hope You have given me in Jesus to others. Amen.
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