Illustration: Who Are the Saved OR Evangelicals? Gallup has at times asked 3 qualifying questions to make the determination; have you had a born-again experience committing yourself to Jesus Christ, have you tried to encourage someone to believe in Christ, and do you believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God? 22% of Americans agree with all 3 questions, says a 5/05 Gallup Poll. (Gallup Alert 12/2/05)
How many of us have been on a cruise ship? We went on one for a whale watching cruise in the Atlantic from Boston. Would you get on one if you were told that it did not have a rudder or engine and did not know the destination? Well there was one enterprising man who took the risk with God and got on and not alone but with his family and a zoo of animals. Did he regret it?
Introduction: We see the rapture of Enoch who was of the 7th generation (perfect number). Noah was of the 10th generation. Can you imagine how the folks of Noah’s day reacted to the building of that ark!
Along with His instructions regarding the design and construction of the ark, God gave Noah a promise. The Noahic Covenant would be formalized with Noah after the flood, but God wanted to assure Noah of the outcome before the onslaught of the flood. How much easier it is to undergo trials and tests when we know the outcome ahead of time. God promised Noah that He would make a covenant with him and his family, and then instructed him to gather food and pairs of every breathing creature to put on board the ark. Of the clean animals, Noah was to take seven pairs (7:2-3) – for sacrifice unto God; of the unclean animals, one pair each (6:19-20).
After many years of construction, the ark was finally completed. God commanded Noah to take the animals into the ark, and Noah did so (7:1-9). It was not until seven days had passed that the flood commenced. It would seem that it took a week to load all of the animals on board. Perhaps God was giving the animals time to settle down before the trauma of the flood came. The day that the floods did come was the day Noah and his family entered the ark, and God shut the door. The day of salvation abruptly ended for the people of the earth. For 40 days and nights, the heavens gushed with rain, and waters also emerged from beneath the earth (7:10-23). If the floodwaters came over a 40-day period, they prevailed for another 150 days (7:24).
What did it take for Noah + his family to be saved?
1. Without Corruption or Violence (sin) ch6 vs. 11-13: Moses goes on to write, “Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.” Three times in 6:11-12 we are told how “corrupt” the earth had become ruined / spoiled / decay (contradictory to chap1:31). When society validates sinful practices like homosexuality, aborts babies and indulges in human sacrifices, we must remember, they are in their last stages of decay (e.g. Sodom & Gomorrah). The word for “violence” is used of robbery, taking wives by force, and murder. The entire social fabric had disintegrated, and human life was no longer sacred or respected (see Isaiah 59:6-8). The two words “corrupt” and “violence” (Psalms 14:1-3) give us respectively the character and expression of the sin, the cause, and the effect. The corruption has led to violence, for badness always leads to cruelty in one form or another. A life that is wrong with God necessarily becomes wrong with its fellows. It is critical to recognize that Noah lived in terrible days. The world around him was degraded and depraved; yet Noah lived an above reproach life. When all the people around him were immersing themselves in evil and earning the wrath and judgment of God, Noah set his heart to follow the path found in the person and character of God. He was set apart. He stood his ground and remained uninfluenced by all that was happening around him. If Noah was, so can you. God has given us everything “pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).
2. Obedience to God ch6 vs. 14 – 22: Does not mean that he never sinned. One of sins is recorded in ch9 v20ff. That does not validate and give us a license to continue in sin. Can you imagine how the folks of Noah’s day reacted to the building of that ark! First, it was so big. Second, it was so ugly. Third, it seemed so useless. Fourth, it was offensive because of what it signified. It was an outward sign of God’s coming judgment upon the world. Noah was a most unusual “preacher.” Every day he spent working on that ark was another sermon, another warning of the coming wrath of God upon sinners. Who wanted a constant reminder of their sins and of God’s coming judgment?
Perhaps the ark must have become a regular tourist site. Folks may have come from far and wide to look at it, and probably to laugh at it. They might even have come to hear this “crazy fellow,” Noah, who warned those who looked on that God was going to judge the earth. If Noah lived in our day, the city council would have tried to change the zoning laws so that the ark would have to be torn down. But by and by, people who lived nearby probably just began to ignore it. After all, who thought it would ever be completed? Who could imagine that it would ever be needed?
I don’t wish to say much about the ark and its appearance, but I do wish to mention that the ark was a very utilitarian vessel, and it didn’t possess some of the accessories that we might have wanted. For example, it had only one door. It seemed to have no lower windows, and perhaps an 18-inch opening at the top for ventilation (which one would need in a vessel full of animals). It seems to have had only one window, and from what I can tell, this window was so high that Noah could not look out from it and see the ground (or the waters) beneath the ark. You will remember that Noah had to send out a dove (from the window), to see if the waters had receded. He could not see outside for himself. And in the end, it was God who gave the instruction to leave the ark and go outside (8:15ff.).
I think all of these design features of the ark were very functional. For example, you would not want doors or windows in a vessel that needed to repel the torrential rains, or which was to endure stormy waters. You would not want many places for leaks or for torrents of rain or waves to pour in. Thus, all the lower levels would have no openings, except for one door (and we’re not sure exactly where it was located). There was yet another reason for the design of the ark. Once the flood commenced and men realized that Noah had been right, they would have desperately sought to get on board the ship, but I’m convinced that its design made it impossible to do. Finally, there were no picture windows on board the ship because the sight of the storm would have been terrifying, and the sight of his neighbors perishing outside would have been too painful to witness. I believe God designed the ark so that Noah and his family would not see the destruction of all life outside the ark. I am inclined to think that this will be true in the future as well. I doubt that heaven will have a picture window, overlooking hell, so that all in heaven can watch the agony of the lost. It may be that hell has a picture window, looking toward heaven, however (see Luke 16:23).
(v 14) One Ark – Represented the presence of God for the Israelites. Hebrew - box / chest like a nest.
(v 14) Gopher wood – all weather & terrain proof (unbeatable) somewhat like a bulletproof car. Parallel to our Slavic protection.
(v 14) Pitch (tar) – Fill in the cracks of Gofer wood so that moisture would not penetrate. Hebrew – to atone. Parallel to the blood of Christ, which plugs the cracks & leaks of our life for saving grace.
(v 16) One window (ventilator) – No other windows & doors. Placed high up so that those inside would not be able to see the unbearable aghast agony of those who were lost.
(v 16) One door – for exit & entry. Parallel to Christ as the only door to the Father. The only door in the Ark for entering to being saved (only 8 souls saved). [John 10: 7] God closed it!!
(v 16) Three levels of the Ark:
Level 1 – Salvation [1 Peter 3:20–21]
Level 2 – Baptism [1 Peter 3:20–21]
Level 3 – Faith
Noah’s blind faith in God - absence of navigation(compass), rudder, sails, engine, oars for rowing. Unknown destination (landing pad). He showed his total dependence and trust in God by placing his life & the lives of his family & animals in His hands. Could we do that? We love to run our lives as we please and want to have complete control of it. If we don’t and things don’t run our way, there seems to be something wrong and we tend to get frustrated. We must remember when God asked or did anything with His people, it was always contrary to what they wanted. Because God’s ways are not our ways ...
(v 17 & 18) Covenant – possible only after destruction of the old & sinful souls and after these 8 souls would sustain / cross the bridge of the flood in order to be saved. Parallel to God’s plan for us in eternity only after being saved through our acceptance of Christ in our lives.
(v 19 & 20) Divine intervention of God - guiding and leading the animals to take shelter in the Ark. At The Well today God intervenes by bringing souls from far & near that we don’t know.
(v 22) Noah’s obedience – Other people were told about the coming disaster, which they didn’t expect to happen.
3. Righteous before God & man ch7 v 1: Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:9). What an epitaph! Noah was a righteous man. Noah’s character is described by two words, righteous and blameless. The word righteous (Hebrew: qyDI²c; saddiq) … is a word commonly used in reference to men. It means that they conform to a standard. Since Noah conformed to the divine standard, he met with God’s approval. However, the term is basically forensic. Therefore, though there be divine approval that does not imply perfection on Noah’s part. It merely implies that those things that God sought in man were present in Noah. Without any pretense of perfection, Noah was a man who took God at His word. He met God’s expectations for man, while the rest of mankind was wicked. The second expression used of Noah is ‘complete’ (verse 9). [Hebrew: ~ymiîT')))))))))) tamim.] “Since the Hebrew root involves the idea of ‘complete,’ we are justified in concluding only that there was an all-sided life, well rounded out in all its parts, with no essential quality missing.” The righteousness of Noah was based more upon his faith in God than in a fear of the consequences of disobedience, I believe. To my knowledge, Noah had no idea that divine judgment was to be meted out upon the earth until God disclosed it to him personally (verses 13ff). This revelation of the outpouring of divine wrath was given as a result of the relationship Noah had with God. Had men been aware of the flood that was coming, they may well have obeyed God out of mere fear of punishment. The relationship between Noah and God was not motivated by such fear, but by faith. Faith, not fear, is the biblical motive for a relationship with God (although there is such a thing as godly fear). Let us be very clear about the righteousness of Noah. It was that righteousness which resulted from faith. By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness, which is according to faith (Hebrews 11:7).
For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:37-39).
Many people seem to think that they will wait until one foot is in the grave and the other is on a banana peel to be saved. It usually doesn’t happen that way. God still closes the door of salvation. When we have lived our lives in sin and rebellion against God, we most often will not be given the luxury of making a deathbed decision. It sometimes happens, I grant, but seldom. Then, too, God’s judgment is often allowing things to take their own course. The account of the flood seems almost like creation reverted to the conditions of the second day of creation (cf. Genesis 1:6-7).
Finally, let us consider the subject of the salvation of God. In the case of Noah, we must observe that God’s way of salvation was restrictive. God provided only one way of salvation (an ark) and only one door. Men could not be saved any way they wished, but only God’s way. Such is the salvation, which God offers men today. Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me’ (John 14:6).
The salvation of the ark was also instructive. It provides us with a picture of the salvation that was accomplished in Christ. It was for those in Moses’ day a type of Christ. The difference between those who were saved and those who perished in the flood was the difference between being in the ark and being outside it. Just as in today’s context of living in Christ and living outside Christ.
Those who were saved and those who died all went through the flood. But those who survived were those in the ark, which sheltered them from the effects of God’s divine displeasure on sin. Those outside the ark, as well as those within, knew the ark existed and were informed that God had warned of a judgment to come. Some chose to ignore these facts, while Noah acted upon them.
So, it is today. God has said that there must be a penalty for sin - death. Those who are in Christ by faith have suffered the wrath of God in Christ. On the cross of Calvary, the wrath of God was poured out upon the sinless Son of God, Jesus Christ. Those who trust in Him have experienced the salvation of God in Christ. Those who refuse to trust in Him and be in Him by an act of the will, must suffer the wrath of God outside of Christ, our ark. Knowing about Christ no more saves a man than knowing about the ark saved men in Noah’s day. It is being in the ark, being in Christ that saves!
God’s way of salvation was not a glamorous one. I believe that many would have been on board the Queen Mary if Noah had built it, but not on the ark. There was little appeal to the eye on that ark, but it was sufficient for the task of saving men in a flood.
Many refuse to be saved if it cannot be achieved in some glorious way, one that is appealing and acceptable. I would not want to spend a year cooped up with noisy, smelly animals any more than you, but that was God’s way.
Our Lord Jesus, when He came to offer salvation to men, did not come as One Who had great personal magnetism or appeal either. As Isaiah spoke of Him 700 years before His coming, He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him (Isaiah 53:2).
Many would come to salvation if it appealed to them in the flesh. God’s salvation is not of this kind. Sometimes Christians fail at this same point. They think that God’s way is a glorious one all the way. All miracles and magnificence. No suffering, no pain, no agony, no heartache. I must tell you that God’s way is not always as glorious as we might wish, but it alone is the way of deliverance and peace and joy.
And this salvation, which God provided, was one that was entered into by faith in God’s revealed Word. Noah probably never had seen rain, nor heard the clap of thunder. But God said that there was to be a flood and that he was to build an ark. Noah believed God and acted on his faith.
Noah’s faith was no academic faith - a mere faith in principle, but an active faith—a faith in practice. He spent 120 years building that ark, committing himself to the God he knew. Our faith, too, must be active.
Application: Noah, we are told, was a preacher. I do not believe that he often spoke from behind a pulpit, but from behind a plank and a hammer. It was Noah’s lifestyle that condemned the men of his day and warned of the judgment to come. His lifestyle was offensive to the society & community at large. It did not streamline with culture of that time. He had learned to draw the line and lived a life pleasing to God. In chap. 6:9 we read that he walked with God. Noah’s whole life was shaped by his certainty that judgment was coming.
We who are Christians know that our Lord will again return to judge the world. I wonder how much it has affected our daily lives. Can your neighbors and mine tell that we are living in the light of a coming day of judgment and of salvation? I sincerely hope so.
Toward the end of the nineteenth century, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel awoke one morning to read his own obituary in the local newspaper: “Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who died yesterday, devised a way for more people to be killed in a war than ever before, and he died a very rich man.” There was only one problem; Alfred Nobel had not died. Actually, it was his older brother who had died, but a newspaper reporter had somehow got it all wrong. Regardless of how it happened, the account had a profound effect on Alfred Nobel. He decided he wanted to be known for something other than developing the means to kill people efficiently and for amassing a fortune in the process. So, he initiated the Nobel Peace Prize, the award for scientists and writers who foster peace. Nobel said, “Every man ought to have the chance to correct his epitaph in midstream and write a new one.”
How will you be remembered when your time on earth is over? When you are gone, how will others describe your faith in God? Are you preparing for God’s judgment? Do not wait for the last minute or delay it for another day. It may be too late.
