Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH (Noah)
Some feel that work done for the church is better than other good works. When Martin Luther became a monk, people felt that church related vocations were more pleasing to God than other lines of work. Some people still feel that pastors are closer to God and more righteous than others.
Now look at Noah. Peter calls him a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5). That he was -- for over a century -- while building the ark. He did what God told him to do despite being considered a laughingstock on that account. This in itself condemned all those who ignored God and His will. And what a pulpit from which to call for repentance! 120 years!
So, if someone could have claimed credit with God for taking the Lord at His Word and then both acting upon it and proclaiming it, it was Noah. But the inspired writer to the Hebrews sets us straight on the matter. Noah found favor with God not because of anything he did, but because he rested his heart upon God's word and promise. He "became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."
And even Noah's believing -- like ours, a creation of God -- was not the cause of his acceptance with God. For it was the Savior in whose promised coming He trusted who gave Noah His righteousness, and Who sets us right with God as well.
May our lives, like Noah's, ever be faith in action. But may our heart's confidence ever be in the word and work of our gracious God -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
