Friday, June 19, 2009

June 19, 2009

"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." Matthew 24:37-39
I hope you're not "Noahed" out yet. There is a lot to learn from this guy and the more I study about him the more he impresses me. He really did "man up".
We have talked about how Noah pleased God and how he protected his family. This morning I want to focus on how he preserved the human race. If he had not "manned up" we would be as extinct as the dinosaurs.
What we can learn from Noah is especially timely in our day because Noah's day looked strikingly similar to nowadays. In fact, Jesus pointed to the days of Noah as one the signs of end times. So, pay attention!
Here's what we can take away from Noah:
Noah Received the Truth
"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen...." Heb. 1:7
Noah didn't suddenly show up and decide to build a boat. He didn't wake up one day and read the weather report. God needed a "go to" guy that He could count on for an enormously important assignment. It wasn't like God had a lot of options. Noah stood out like a beacon in the darkness. While everyone else was partying like sin, Noah was honoring God.
Because Noah revered the truth, he recognized the truth and, therefore, was able to receive the truth. God commended Noah as a righteous man BEFORE he built the ark! That's why he got the gig.
So, what's your relationship to the truth of God? Could God count on you to "man up" if He needed to count on you? (By the way - He does)
Noah Recognized the Times
"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." Matthew 24:37-39
God noticed how rotten things had become. So had Noah. Only those who are righteous and holy will recognize evil. And they are the only ones who care. From what we see in Scripture accounts it was all-party all the time. Debauchery was more common than decency. Apparently, Mr. and Mrs. Noah were the only ones who bothered to do the right things. Surrounded by evil, they never surrendered to evil.
If you have ever wondered whether one person can make a difference in the midst of prevailing evil the answer is "yes"! It doesn't take a lot of righteous people to turn the tide, but it does take committed ones. Noah was the one man difference between the extinction of the human race and the will of God.
Jesus reminds us to be like Noah in recognizing the times and in responding to them. And remember that one man who "mans up" + God = a majority.
Noah Rose to the Task
".....in holy fear built an ark...." Heb. 11:7
Now that Noah was aware of the impending disaster, he had a choice. He could learn to tread water or he could build a boat. He had no experience with either, but he knew that when God calls you to a task He equips you and instructs you. It was never about Noah's ability but his availability and it is never about your ability either. God will always call you to God-sized tasks and challenges you to "man up" with His power.
Noah dedicated a significant portion of his life to accomplishing the task that would please God, protect his family and preserve humanity. Every morning for over 100 years he got up and cut timbers, and pounded nails, and poured pitch. He was faithful to the task, one hour at a time. While everyone else was playing and partying, Noah was punching the time clock.
Heroes happen one obedient task at a time. That's how you "man up".
You are not the only godly man in town, like Noah was. But your love of the truth and your awareness of the time and your faithfulness to the task is just as crucial to your corner of the world as Noah's was.
Thank God for Noah! What a man!
As you celebrate this Father's Day week-end why not honor manhood by learning from Noah. I challenge you to commit as he did to please God, protect his family and preserve rightousness in your generation.