IF YOU HAD BEEN NOAH
Thank you and once again a good morning to our listeners. We remind you that the congregation bringing you this program, the White Park church of Christ, meets this morning for the study of God's Word at 9:00 a.m.; at 10:00 a.m. for our morning worship and again this evening at 7:00 p.m. for our evening worship. Then on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for Bible study. You have cordial invitation to attend any or all of these services.
Last week I spoke upon the subject of "The Flood." In our study this morning, I wish to return to the same subject, but with another question, "What would you have done if you had been Noah?" We begin with the reading of Hebrews 11:7, "By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith."
Question One: "Would you have found grace in the eyes of the Lord." Genesis 6, verse 8, reads, "But Noah found favor (grace) in the eyes of Jehovah." Noah stood above his environment. So what if everyone else is doing it. Verse 9, states, "Noah was a righteous man." The word "righteous" or "just" (in K.J.) has to do with being rigid. Noah would not bend or weave, he stood firm. He had his convictions. At home, work, or play. Perhaps the people around him called him an old "Fuddy-duddy, old stiff-shirt." They probably said, "Old Noah, he just does not know how to have fun." The scripture says that "Noah walked with God." (Gen. 6:9). How is that possible? It was not in a fleshly relationship. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, we learn, "we walk by faith, not by sight." Since Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17), it follows that Noah walked as God instructed or told him to walk. Amos 3:3 states, "How can two walk together, except they be agreed." Thus, Noah agreed with God, he walked with Him. So often man thinks there must be some mystical, mysterious, better felt than told connection between himself and Jehovah. It is not enough for man to take God at His Word and by faith to do what He says. Yet, that is exactly what Noah did.
My friends, are you walking with God? Do you listen to what the Lord tells you to do? Do you find favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Question number two: "If you had been Noah: What would have been your reaction to the job to be done?" God asked a great thing of him. "A boat??" "How large??" 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, 30 cubits high?? Lord, that's big. By comparison, that would be as long a football field, plus half again. Where did he plug in his skill saw? Or his Black and Decker Drill?? "Shem, run down to 'Builder's Square' and pick up a barrel of 16 penny nails." GOPHER WOOD?? Lord, why gopher wood?? There is no indication that Noah offered any excuses, or began to quibble with the Lord. He offered no objections. Suppose Noah already had a boat? Couldn't he just use that one? There might have been any number of excuses that Noah may have offered, but we hear of none. Suppose Noah would have begun to build, but then got tired and quit, not finishing the task. What we are saying, NOAH'S TASK WAS NOT AN EASY ONE!!! But then, the Lord has not asked man to do only what is easy. Some things required of us are most difficult, very demanding. Especially is this true when we sometimes seem to stand alone. With none to encourage us. With none to assist us. While all those around us offer only objections and discouragement. How often the acquaintances of Noah must have sneered at him, ridiculed him as a silly old man; made fun of him. But Noah went about doing what he knew needed to be done. And remember, it was almost a hundred years between the command to build and the coming of the flood. My friend, what is your reaction to the Lord's commandments. You are not required to build an ark. But, there are commands given for you to obey. Are you doing them?
Question number three: If you had been Noah: Would you have been satisfied with the Lord's plan? You see, people want to build their own ark, they have their own ideas as to how things should be done, and they want to make their own arrangements. Just not content with the way the Lord lays things out. In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asked a question, "Whom do men say that I am." The answer, "Some say you are John, some say you are Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." Man always has his own ideas about God's ways. No doubt, if the present society would have been there, they would have figured out a better way of doing it. A more logical and reasonable solution according to human wisdom. But, what man has never learned is: MAN CANNOT IMPROVE UPON THE LORD'S WAYS. God has given a remedy, a plan, for man's salvation: Christ said that "unless you believe that I am He, ye shall die in your sins (John 8:24). He also said, "Except ye repent, ye shall die in your sins (Luke 13:5). He further said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved (Matthew 16:16). But, man does not like the arrangement, the plan given by the Lord. Man says, faith only is a most wholesome doctrine. Man says, We are saved by grace alone. Man is just not content with the Lord's commands. God says that we are to "Sing and make melody with your heart to the Lord" (Eph 5:19; Col. 3:16). But, man comes along and inserts mechanical instruments of music in the worship. He is just not content with the Lords' ways. He must insert his own human wisdom. God has given the plan for the organization and the work of the church. But, man is not satisfied with that and comes up with all sorts of arrangements to do the Lord's will. God has given us the type or kind of worship that He approves of. But, man comes along and wants to dress it up; thus the emotional upheavals; the emotional outpourings; the emotional frenzy. All of this for the benefit of man; to please man, without so much as a thought as to whether or not it is approved by the Lord. Are you satisfied with the Lord's plans? Or, do you seek to insert your own ideas into God's arrangements. Paul states, "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work." My friend, if you have more than what the scriptures provide, then it is not a good work. Doing something will not suffice, unless it is doing what the Lord says. Noah could NOT just build a boat. Not just any boat would have floated. Why GOPHER WOOD? Boy, what a drag? Why not just what is at hand, whatever is convenient?? In Revelation 22:18, we learn, "I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: and if any man shall take away the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree or life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book." John says, "Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God:" (2 John 9). We are limited to the teaching of Christ, what He authorizes. How can I know what the Lord wants me to do?? I must listen to what He says through His inspired Word. Nothing more, nor nothing less. Am I satisfied with the Lord's plan? Are You??
Question number four: If you had been Noah: Would you have been satisfied just to save the ones the Lord said should be saved?? In 1 Peter 3:20, we learn that only 8 souls (or people) were saved. Is that all Lord? What about the rest??? Noah might have said, What about my good friend who lives down the street. How about uncle Zek? or aunt Suzzie? Lord, what about them? Will they drown?? How often do men today attempt to smooth over what the Lord says. In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus states, "Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby, For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it." Jesus says, many shall be lost; few are to be saved. How many is many; how few is few?? I do not know, but I know the Lord said only few will be saved. We need not try to soften what the Lord has said. But, someone says, that is harsh language. And I agree. But it is also truth. This is not to say that we should be pleased with the fact that the multitudes shall be lost. Surely, Noah took no consolation when he saw the masses who refused him, drowning in the flood. But, it was not Noah's decision. It was their decision. Did they not have the opportunity to hear and obey Noah's warnings. In Acts 10:34, we learn that "God is no respecter of persons." They could have responded to the commands of God just like Noah responded, but they choose not to do so. They rejected the love of God and suffered the consequences of their sins. And the same thing can be said of todays world. Those who reject the love of God and refuse to do the commandments of the Lord will suffer the consequences of their choices.
Jesus said, "He that rejected me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). You see, it matters not what I may think or what I might say. The truth of the matter is that you and I shall stand before God one day and be judged by the Word of God. What does God's word say? My friend, if you do not respond to that Word and do it with all your heart, you shall be lost. I take no consolation in saying that. But it is the truth. The truth that each one of us will meet when we stand in judgment before our Creator. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). This is what Christ commanded and I cannot remove it, nor lessen the demands of it. And, if the whole world refuses it, it still stands. And it will stand into eternity to judge us.
What is your attitude toward what God has told you to do? What is mine? Our attitude determines what we would have done had we been Noah. Would you build? or would you go your merry way and ignor what He said? Lord, don't bother me right now. What a sobering thought. To be faced with the decision of whether or nor to obey the commandments of the Lord. But then, we have the same choice as did Noah. It took faith on the part of Noah. And, it will take faith on your part.