NOAH AND YOU
We have heard the story of Noah and the Ark since we
were small children. Because of this, many conclude that this is just a children’s story and it does not involve us in any way today. How could it? This event took place several thousand years ago. What does Noah and the Ark have to do with you and I today?
Fasten your seat belt, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
You are about to find out just how much you really have in common with Noah and the Ark today. History is about to repeat itself and it directly involves you! So get ready!
I. Here are the facts taken from the story of Noah in
Genesis 6 and 7:
1. God saw that the world was becoming increasingly
wicked. 6:5-6
2. God decided that he was going to destroy mankind
and all the earth with it. 6:7
3. God saw Noah was a righteous man and He had mercy
on him. 6:9
4. God told Noah his plan for destroying man. 6:13
5. God gave Noah a way to safety. 6:14
6. Noah did what God commanded. 6:22
7. God was true to his promise and destroyed all
mankind, but spared Noah and his family. 7:23.
II. Here is how our situation is similar to Noah’s:
1. God sees that the world has become increasingly
wicked because people haven’t changed since the
days of Noah, 2 Timothy 3:1-4, and verse 13 warns,
"But mark this: There will be terrible
times in the last days. People will be
lovers of themselves...rather than lovers
of God...evil men and impostors will
go from bad to worse..."
2. God plans to destroy mankind and the world again.
Only this time, He will use fire instead of water.
The results will be complete and permanent
destruction, 2Peter 3:10-12 declares,
"But the day of the Lord will come like a
thief. The heavens will disappear with a
roar; the elements will be destroyed by
fire, and the earth and everything in it
will be laid bare."
3. God, once again, explains how we can escape
the destruction that is coming upon the whole
world. Anyone in Christ will be found safe and
will receive mercy from God. 2 Pet. 3:13-15 says,
"But in keeping with his promise we are
looking forward to a new heaven and a
new earth, the home of righteousness...
Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience
means salvation..."
In the days of Noah, only those on the ark were
promised protection, 1 Peter 3:20. Today, the
only people God promises to save are his children
who have been added to his church.
4. Now it’s your turn. Follow the Lord’s
instructions so that you will be found
safe when the wrath of God comes on the
world. "Therefore keep watch, because you do
not know on what day your Lord will come...
so you must also be ready..." Matt. 24:42,44.
5. Compare your instructions to Noah’s:
a. Noah was told to build the ark and God would
gather the living creatures that he intended
to rescue. Genesis 7:9.
b. Today, we do not need to build
an ark to protect us from God’s wrath.
Instead, we have the church, which Jesus
built for us. Matthew 16:18 proclaims,
"...on this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades will not over-
come it."
c. Our job is to go into all the world, like God
did in the days of Noah, and invite all
living creatures, (this time people), to
enter into this spiritual place of safety.
It’s interesting to note that the roles of
God and Noah are reversed for us today. Back
then, Noah did the building and the Lord
gathered those who were to enter into safety.
Today, Jesus did the building and we are to
do the gathering. Luke 14:23 states,
"Then the master told his servant, ’Go
out to the roads and country lanes and
make them come in so that my house
will be full’".
6. God will once again be true to his promise and
carry out his plans. As the ark was water-
proof in Noah’s day, the church is to be "fire-
proof". The ark was physical, the church is
spiritual. It can not be burned up if it is
from God. The fire will test what is real.
"...the fire will test the quality of
each man’s work. If what he has built
survives, he will receive his reward."
1 Corinthians 3:13-15
III. You are a modern-day Noah. The situation is
much the same, only the "ark" has changed.
1. Just as Noah had to enter through that
great door of the ark into safety, so we
too, must pass through that great door in
order to reach safety. Today, Jesus is
that door, John 10:9. Luke 13:23-27 says,
Make every effort to enter through
the narrow door, because many,
I tell you will try to enter and
will not be able to. Once the owner of
the house gets up and closes the door,
you will stand outside knocking and
pleading, "Sir, open the door for us."
After Noah entered into the Ark and the
door was closed, do you wonder if some
may have stood outside the Ark as the
flood waters were rising? Perhaps they
were knocking and pleading, saying,
"Sir, please open the door for us!"
2. The Bible says that Noah obeyed God in
faith with a "holy fear". Heb. 11:7 says,
"By faith Noah, when warned about
things not yet seen, in holy fear
built an ark to save his family". Our
efforts today must be done with the same
"holy fear" that compelled Noah.
3. In Noah’s day, everyone was completely
surprised when the flood came. In the same
way, everyone will once again be caught
off-guard and doomed, Matthew 24:36-39:
"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...up to the day Noah entered
the ark...they knew nothing about
what would happen until the flood
came and took them away."
God was patient with Noah and waited 100 years for him
to finish his task. God will be patient with you. But
do not get distracted with unholy projects. Noah did not get greedy and turn his project into a profitable "petting zoo", or a "Mediterranean Cruse with exoctic animals". Nor did he get discourage and quit because people may have said that he was involved in some weird "animal cult". He kept the faith and remained hard at work, even when there wasn’t a "cloud in the sky." Now, like Noah, you have a similar job to do. God has picked you to help him with his final plans. Invite all to come in. Save all you can. Noah only saved eight, including himself. Try to save at least that many. It’s a good idea to start with your family, like he did. Jude 21-23 tells us that there will be some doubting souls who need our pity and we are to "snatch them from the flames and save them."
God bless you. You are a modern-day Noah. You may not like this task you have been given, but it’s sure better than finding yourself "outside the boat without a paddle". Therefore, get ready. History, will once again repeat itself.
