7 Lessons From Noah’s Ark

6. If you wait for signs, you’ll be too late. You must begin preparation now.

B. WHAT WE’RE SUPPOSED TO DO

1. HUMOR: FINISHING THINGS

a. It’s like the guy who recently sought counseling for an issue in his life, and came back to me with this funny report; "My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start.”

b. “So today, I’m working hard at it. So far I’ve finished 2 bags of chips and a chocolate cake. I feel better already!"

2. “Planning ahead” means first, to make a place for yourself in God’s salvation. This embraces:

a. Repentance from sins and dead works, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;

b. Surrender of your own will and taking up your cross – accepting His will for your life and future; and

c. Following Jesus – adopting His character and obedience to the Father, becoming like Jesus.

3. Let’s plan ahead for eternity.

III. STAY FIT. NOAH WAS 500 WHEN ASKED TO BUILD THE ARK

A. IS IT TIME TO RELAX?

1. How do you think it feels to be 500 years old? Do you think that Noah, at 500, got tired by two o'clock? Did he have aches and pains? Did his knees creak? Like most older men, had his big chest drifted south to form a potbelly?

2. Certainly he had worked hard for many years and built up his farm and ranch until he was well situated. He undoubtedly thought, "It's finally time for me to be able to rest and enjoy the latter years of my life."

3. I’ve known a number of people who worked for the state who took an early retirement at 48 or 52 years old, and began enjoying a long, restful retirement.

4. Do you think it was a shocker when at 500 God asked Noah to build a vessel 1 1/2 million cubic feet with a capacity of 569 modern railroad cars?

5. The floor space of the Ark was over 101,000 square feet. It was the largest vessel ever built until the late 1800s. Noah had already served God and done God's will for 500 years. Surely that was enough! No! He stayed ready/willing even into his old age

B. STAYING SPIRITUALLY FIT

1. Noah wasn’t only fit physically, he was also spiritually fit, that is, he stayed in such a close relationship with God that he could be directed, daily, on the specifics of his huge task.

2. Noah stayed prayed up, sensitive, full of the Holy Spirit -- his mind filled with the thoughts of God, even though he lived in a corrupt and degenerate time.

3. Likewise if we want to be ready, we must stay spiritually alert and full of God’s Word and Spirit. There’s no room for dabbling in the world or participating in its filth and perversity. We must stay pure and holy, for God says, “Without holiness no man/ woman will see the Lord” Heb. 12:14.

4. John said, “All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as He is pure” 1 Jn. 3:3. Are you spiritually fit for an assignment from God?

IV. DON’T LISTEN TO CRITICS; DO YOUR JOB.

A. KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON THE GAME

1. People will always find fault with the church and with Christians. Why? Because people aren't perfect and there’re always problems.