2 January 2024
Reading from Genesis 4-7
“So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.”
Genesis 7:23
Noah was the very first evangelist mentioned in the Bible. An evangelist is someone who communicates God’s message to others. In his lifetime, the world was flooded with all kinds of wickedness and so God brought judgment by destroying those who would not listen to the warnings of Noah by bringing a cataclysmic flood of water. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”[1] Humanity had decided to do life their own way instead of God’s and it made Him sad and angry. He knew what incredible, amazing blessings they were missing out on by continuing in their disobedience.[2] God told Noah to build the ark, a giant ship, and II Peter 2:5 calls Noah a preacher, a herald of righteousness. By his work in building the ark and most likely by his words, Noah was communicating to people living in the ancient world at that time that they needed to turn away from their sins and get on board with God’s rescue plan. The people were warned, but they did not listen. Only Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives took God’s message seriously and were saved.[3] Their faith in God brought them together and this tiny community survived. In the ark they were safe and secure while the storms raged around them.
Noah found his identity in God. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord…Noah walked with God.”[4] The first evangelist found undeserved favor with God because he chose to believe trust in Him and what’s more, Noah put his faith into action. “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.”[5] And yet despite being warned about what was coming, people went about their nasty business. The story of Noah gives us insight into the destiny of followers of Jesus. Our Savior explained it this way,
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”[6]
You see, even though people saw and heard about what Noah was doing, they did not believe him and so their thoughts and behavior went unchanged. They probably thought he was crazy for building the ark and crazy for believing what he did, even though it was revealed to him by God Himself, the very Creator of those Noah was trying to save. The Good News of Jesus is being communicated today all over the world, but most people choose not to believe and so they go on in their unhealthy, destructive ways causing more and more heartache. But God has provided a rescue plan through Jesus. He is our great Ark of Salvation, the Way, the Truth and the Life. There is only one ark and only one door.[7] All are invited, but only a few will decide to get on board. My mother taught me as a child that, “if the whole world is doing wrong, it doesn’t make it right. You do what is right no matter what.” Everyone through time and space who has ever dared to trust God is inside the ark; everyone who is part of the family of God is in the safe refuge of Jesus. Instead of a flood, the earth will be cleansed with fire and God will create a New Heaven and a New Earth. The door will open and we will step into our exciting, eternal destiny. Since we do not know when this will happen, we should make the most of every opportunity to live for God. Jesus is coming soon! Every day is one day closer to His coming.
“Jesus, help me to take your Word seriously. Give me the strength that I need to love You and show that love to others and to myself in practical ways. I pray that I would love others enough to tell them about You and Your rescue plan. Thank you for providing me with salvation by grace through faith in You. Inspire me by Your great love to make a positive difference in the world around me. Amen.”
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
[1] Genesis 6:5-6
[2] Romans 6:23
[3] Matthew 7:13-14
[4] Excerpts from Genesis 6:8-9
[5] Hebrews 11:7
[6] Matthew 24:37-42
[7] Genesis 7:16, John 10:9
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