Noah Found Grace Genesis 8:15-22
In Hebrews 11 the topic of faith is explained this way:
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” In other words, faith is not wishful thinking, but certainty and assurance in spiritual matters, reminding us that God always keeps his promises. In looking at some of the people of faith listed in Hebrews 11 we get a better picture of what faith in action looks like.
Consider Noah for instance. In the Genesis account of Noah and his family we learn that the world was in deep decline in their rejection of God. They not only rejected God, but they mocked God. (Genesis 6) Not unlike today. So here are some faith lessons we learn from the life of Noah.
1.God is the moral judge of this universe. 2 Peter 3:3-7
When Jesus was asked what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age? (Matt. 24:37) He replied “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.”
As believers in Jesus Christ we cherish our freedom of religion, but that freedom is being eroded by secular humanism today more than any other time in the history of Canada. The signs of the age are everywhere especially in the area of moral decline. Remember God is the moral judge of the earth.
The second lesson on faith is:
- God always keeps His Word.
Gen. 6:3 “my spirit will not strive with man forever for he is mortal and his days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
How good of God to remind us of our mortality. The concerns over saving the planet and the green plan for how to save the earth, tells me that people are very aware of the destruction man can cause to the earth, but they are unaware of what moral decline does to destroy their lives. God has a moral plan for the earth and the Bible describes it in life-giving terms. God has a plan for his people and his return. A plan to take us to a new heaven and a new earth. Why new? Because moral decline will destroy the present earth we live on.
The third lesson on faith:
- God always rewards faithfulness.
Noah and his family were saved. After 120 years of building the ark and warning people of God’s judgment on the earth, none were saved except Noah’s family.
Today we would consider that to be a major failure in evangelism. But God is sovereign and the same opportunities that were granted to those in Noah’s day are being offered today through the witness of the church. God rewarded Noah for his faithfulness and when the time was right, God opened the doors to a whole new world. Noah’s response was to build an altar and offer a thanksgiving sacrifice to the Lord for his faithfulness. Obedience to God’s word results in blessing from God and gratitude from those that love Him expressed in worship.
The final faith lesson from the life of Noah:
- Salvation is from God:
Salvation by faith not by sight is demonstrated in this account. Noah knew nothing of a flood, he knew nothing about boat building, but he believed God, followed the instructions of God, accepted the criticism and mockery of man, in order to experience the power of God and ultimately salvation from God. The Bible says he became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Good lessons for us to remember today.
Be blessed and stay safe.
Pastor Larry