Faith Of Our Fathers预览

  

Noah’s Faith—A Fearful, Reverent Faith

There was a time in world history when the earth had become so wicked that it was filled with corruption and violence. It was so corrupt that every imagination of people’s hearts was corrupt and evil. Humanity had reached the point of no return; they would never repent and return to God. God was left with no choice: the earth had to be destroyed. But there was one man on earth who was godly—Noah. Noah worshipped and honored God in his life. Therefore, God warned Noah of the coming judgment upon the earth. He told Noah to prepare an ark and that the ark would save him, his family, and two of every animal. God also told Noah to warn the world of coming judgment.

Scripture says that Noah received the warning from God with holy, reverent fear. The word “fear” means with godly fear. It has the idea of…

Ø standing in awe of God and his warning

Ø fearing God’s judgment 

Ø diligently taking God at His Word 

Ø immediately acting upon what God says

Noah believed God’s warning of coming judgment, and he began to build the ark with a godly fear and reverence, knowing that what God said would come true. God’s judgment would fall upon the earth; Noah believed it and knew it by faith. 

Noah stood fast in his faith despite the mockery of the world. He lived far, far inland from the ocean—definitely nowhere close to any shipbuilding yards. Yet, he built a ship as large as an ocean liner. Imagine the laughs, mockery, scorn, and abuse Noah suffered. Imagine how often he was called a fool and thought to be insane. But Noah was faithful. He preached the righteousness and coming judgment of God. In the eyes of the world he was nothing more than a fool, but the mockery and abuse did not deter him. He remained faithful and continued to proclaim the truth and to warn people—exactly as God had told him to do.

Noah also continued to build the ark—continued to build the vessel that would save him and his family and as much animal life as possible. Noah continued day after day, walking in godly fear, believing the sheer Word of God about coming judgment. 

Noah stands as a great example of believing God and His warning of coming judgment. Noah’s faith was unique in that it was a fearful, reverent faith. God has warned us that His judgment will one day fall again upon the earth. But He has provided us an Ark of Safety—salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Our task is the same as Noah’s: to warn the world of God’s coming judgment and to persuade unbelievers “to come into the Ark”—to repent of their sin and receive Christ as Savior and Lord.

1) Has God ever asked something of you that you were hesitant to do?

2) Is it hard for you to have faith in God if ridicule is involved? Why do you think that is?

3) How difficult is it for you to faithfully trust God at His word? 

4) Are you telling others of God’s coming judgment and their need of salvation through Christ?