Faith Works For God (Hebrews 11:7)
"By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." (Hebrews 11:7).
I'd get it if Noah objected. He didn't live near a large body of water. The earth likely hadn't produced any rain by the time he came around. We'd understand if he balked at God's direction to build a massive boat in the middle of nowhere.
But Noah didn't resist God's word. Instead, by a long and determined faith, he builds the ark for God. It took him 120 years, but week after week, he constructed the ark for the saving of his household.
Noah's faith was a long one, steady obedience toward one massive goal. There was only one payoff to Noah's faithfulness, and our modern world is grateful for his faithfulness. And we can learn from his faith by inspecting it. Here are seven marks:
1. Reverent Fear
First, we must consider the reverent fear with which Noah's faith operated. He had come to respect the voice of God more than the opinion of others. His life would be a mockery, of course. Old, crazy Noah would be the source of great comedic material. And they would laugh until they could laugh no longer. But if Noah had thought highly of the opinions of others, he might not have embarked on the journey to build the ark. He certainly wouldn't have stuck with the project. The acceptance of others would've driven him to quit. But Noah was not snared by the fear of man, and instead trusted the Lord (Proverbs 29:25).
2. Produced Action
Second, we must consider how Noah's faith produced action. He got off his duff and started swinging that hammer. He didn't build a dingy, but a freighter. 438 feet long, 73 feet wide, and 44 feet high is a conservative estimate of the size of Noah's boat. This was quite the D.I.Y. project. But Noah kept working. And without the convenience of modern equipment, the work was slow. I'm sure there were days and weeks it felt like he'd accomplished nothing. Still, Noah worked for God.
Satan loves to lie to God's people about works. He tells us we can be saved by them, or keep our salvation by them. If that doesn't work, he tells us we can forget all about them. But Christ-followers should resist the offer of legalism and license, instead opting for a life of faith that gets busy. "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead" (James 2:26). Noah's faith was alive.
3. Costliness
Third, we must consider the costliness of Noah's work. It is costly to follow Christ, and Noah serves as a beautiful template for the price believers pay to follow their Lord. Noah certainly became a byword, a laughingstock, to the world around him. He was a punchline, and it was his simple and long obedience to God that made him one.
He also would've had to hire workers, pay for materials, and donate his time to the task at hand. The ark would not build itself. Though God could've spoken an ark into existence, He chose instead to build one through a man. Noah's life was spent building and preparing the ark. It cost him to place his faith in God, but in the end, it was well worth it to do so. Jesus said, "Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35). Noah serves as an excellent illustration of such a life.
4. Focus
Fourth, we must consider the focus Noah's work required. Any project which takes over a century to complete requires intense focus. He was not dawdling but working. His exacting obedience to the architectural plan is inspiring. I imagine Noah measuring twice and cutting once, thinking long and hard over the details of each section of the ark. I think of him preparing for the months ahead. Each day, the guy had a goal, and with precision and determination, he got after the plan. To me, Jesus had this same type of diligent focus toward the massive goal of the cross. He prepared disciples, laid the groundwork of the gospel, and fulfilled His mission. I want a similar Christlikeness to flow into my bones, a willingness to work over the long-haul toward the goals Christ has put in my brain.
5. Household Impact
Fifth, we must consider the impact of Noah's work. The text in Hebrews tells us that he saved his household. After 120 years of nothing, Noah's family was saved through his crazy boat. The rains came, the deep burst forth, and the world was flooded. Noah's ark saved Noah's family.
I wonder if, as he built that boat, there were times Noah felt like a failure. I wonder if there were times he doubted. But I'm certain that when the boat began to float, he didn't feel like he'd failed, but that he'd made the right decision. His house was saved through his allegiance to God.
Many today are called to live in obedience to Christ, and that obedience will lead to the saving of a household. Others, blood or not, will benefit from your work for Jesus. Life will be given. Salvation will occur. Disaster will be avoided.
6. Preacher of Righteousness
Sixth, we must consider the impact of Noah's work on the world. Only his household benefited, but the invitation was open to all. Instead, they belittled the man and rejected the premise of the ark, one which said God would judge the world for disobedience and rebellion.
God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. For over a century, Noah's construction project served as a pulpit to declare God's grace to the world. Repent! Turn from your error! Give your life to God!, the ark said. In building, Noah became "a herald of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5). As people watched Noah's life -- I don't know much he spoke -- they should have become convicted over sin and given their own lives to God.
Years later, God relented from bringing judgment upon a repentant Ninevah. He might have done the same if Noah's generation had repented in like manner. Instead, however, Noah's presence merely solidified their position of rebellion to God.
7. After Worship and Walk
Seventh, we must consider where Noah's work lands in this great chapter on faith. Abel worshipped God. Enoch walked with God. And Noah worked for God. The placement seems intentional. Before we do stuff for God, we must love and walk with God. Working for Him without knowing Him isn't His desire. But when we know and love Him, when we enjoy God daily, our work for Him flows. A
s an example, I know many pastors, some of whom have drifted from their love for God and daily walk with him. For them, the work for God became drudgery. Others, though, have continued to love and walk with Him. And the work, though difficult, flows from that place of relationship, so they endure.
God has work for you to engage in, one which will benefit others. You are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works he has foreordained for you to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).
Pastor Britt Merrick wrote a beautiful book called Big God all about Hebrews 11. Regarding God's invitation for Noah to work on an ark, he wrote:
"God will accomplish His work with or without you. But He loves you, and because He does, He invites you to participate. Isn't it true that love, by nature, is invitational? Love reaches out and includes. That's what love does. God loves you, so He wants to include you in His passions and in His mission. That's why He invites you in."
May we hear His invitation, and by faith work for Him.
