Faith to serve God
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith (Hebrews 11:7).
Noah’s story begins with him finding grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8). Like Abel and Enoch, he lived in an increasingly violent and corrupt world. But God drew Noah to Himself, and the thin line of faith continued in this man who learned to walk with God. After God shared his purposes with Noah, he gave him a precise service: to build an ark.
In the course of my work I have regular contact with a local boatyard. I really enjoy going into the big shed where old boats are restored and new ones built. I always wonder how the craftsmen begin the work. I never cease to be impressed by the variety of skills used and the incredible results of painstaking and detailed work. To see these boats in full sail, cutting through the waters of the Humber Estuary, is a lovely sight. As people watch these boats, I doubt many think about the skill, hard work and devotion that went into creating such remarkable vessels. So it was with Noah. His ark must have been a mystery to the people who watched it gradually emerge. The Lord Jesus reminds us, “As in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered the ark” (Matthew 24:38). COVID-19 has demonstrated how fragile and uncertain life can be. Tragic circumstances can focus our hearts and minds on the meaning and purpose of life. They can draw us near to God, but they can also cause us to resist God or, as in Noah’s day, simply not to care. The Lord experienced what it was for no one to care for his soul (Psalm 142:4), but it is a solemn and tragic thing when we don’t care for our own souls.
As the world continued in its distance from God, Noah continued in his nearness to God. The world did not mould him into its character. He was transformed through faith. And how was this seen? It was seen in his personal walk with God, care for his family, the witness of his work, and by preaching righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). This is also our witness. We should not forget that Noah saved his family. It is a challenge to Christians that, in our endeavour to serve others, our families are not neglected. Noah kept his varied responsibilities in balance, and his life was a harmonious witness to the grace of God in the world he lived in.
Service can sometimes feel a fruitless occupation. It can seem that no one listens or understands. The Lord Jesus had the experience of seeing little response to His own ministry at times. But God does not assess our lives based on the degree of our success, but upon our willingness to be faithful servants. Today endless attempts are made to try to measure levels of success in education, business and society. The results are always imperfect. But God knows the effort, tears, disappointments and trials we go through in trying to serve Him. He values perfectly what we do for Him, and He uses our service in ways which are only known to Him. Finally, He delights to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21).
