Thoughts: Noah was a farmer, a wine maker, a boat builder- a layman. But we may forget Noah's job as described by the New Testament: "A preacher of righteousness." Noah found favor and grace in the eyes of the Lord. But Noah tried to use that grace to help others. Really, Noah was an utter failure as a preacher of righteousness in terms of results. He lived what he preached, but he got such bad results. No one responded- except maybe his immediate family of seven. Was Noah a success? He was in the sense that He did carefully, faithfully, and utterly what God asked him to do. It was not his results or technique that were important. What was important was that God preached righteousness through Noah to a people who did not want to hear about it.
When Jesus said, "As it was in the day of Noah so it will be at the Son of Man's coming" (Lk. 17:26). Not only was this coming of God swift and surprising- but the people refused to hear and repent. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah refused to repent but instead tried to attack the Lord's angels. When Jerusalem was destroyed it was because in part that the people refused to repent of their sin- but justified it as their knowing better (Jer. 8, 15). In the Book of Revelation it speaks of the end times as a time when people refused to repent- so God's waiting to come and holding back wrath did no good (Rev. 2:20-21; 9:21; 16:11). Today there are many who absolutely refuse to repent or open their eyes. They have hardened their hearts and their eyes to God. Do not be afraid to be a Noah to a generation who refuses to repent.
Prayer: Help me to live and preach righteousness for you, O Lord.
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