If You Had Been Noah

                        IF YOU HAD BEEN NOAH

Introduction:
1. Heb. 11:7--"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.

2. Often we associate self with characters we admire. Maybe, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood etc. etc., but lets look to the story of Noah. " If I had Been Noah. "

I. WOULD YOU HAVE FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD? Gen. 6:8 Noah stood above his environment. So what -IF- everyone else is doing it! Gen 6:9. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations.
    Noah walked with God.
    "Righteous" "perfect" "Just" (KJ) Original word has to do with being rigid.
    Noah would not bend or weave, he stood firm. He had convictions. At home, or at work, or at play.
   "Noah walked with God" (vs 9). How?? (Not a fleshly relationship!) 2 Cor. 5:7; For we walk by faith, not by sight.

What does it mean to walk with God


De 5:33 "You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.
    "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

    Josh 22:5 "But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul."

    To walk with God is to do as he has commanded.- by faith

    Rom 10:17; So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

    Amos 3:3. "Can two walk together, except they agree."

Noah agreed with God, He believed God, He had faith in God, He had conviction and He did as God instructed him to do.. We have complete instructions also ..

    2Pe 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

    So often man thinks there must be some mystical, mysterious, better felt than told connection between himself and Jehovah. Not enough for him to take God at his Word and by faith to do what he says. Yet, that is exactly what Noah did.

    As we read in Heb 11:7. Lets read that again.
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.

II. WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN YOUR REACTION TO THE JOB TO BE

    DONE?


God asked a great thing of him. "A Boat??" How large??? 300 cubits, 50,30??

That's BIG!!
    Length of football field, and another half, plus.
    Where did he plug in his skill saw?? Or his Black and Decker Drill??
    Who made his nails for him???
    GOPHER WOOD??? Did He say gopher wood?

Maybe we would do as some do today, [I know that is what you said but it ain't what you mean ]

That's what I've been told when I read mark 16;16 and 1st peter 3;21 on baptism..

Brethren, God means exactly what He says..
There's No indication that Noah offered any excuses, or began to quibble with the Lord.
Suppose Noah already had a boat??? Couldn't we just use it??
Suppose Noah would have begun and then quit, not finishing the task??

What we are saying, is NOAH'S TASK WAS NOT AN EASY ONE!!!!
But then, the Lord has not asked man to do only what is EASY.

Some things required of us are most difficult, very demanding. Especially when we sometimes seem to stand alone, None to encourage us, None to assist us, rather only those who oppose and object, ridicule and slander..

III. WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN SATISFIED WITH THE LORD'S PLAN??

People want to build their own ark, they have their own ideas and they want to make their own arrangements.
No doubt, if the present society would have been there, they would have figured out a better way of doing it. A more logical and reasonable solution.
But, what man has never learned is: Man cannot improve on God's ways.

God has given a plan of salvation: Faith, Repentance, Baptism.
But, man does not like the plan. So, Faith only, Saved by grace alone, etc.
God has given the plan for organization; for worship; for work;
Man comes along and seeks to improve on every aspect of what God has said.

Man has got to have Guts to tell God, I know that's what you said but you don't mean that.. or is it stupidity..?

    2 Tim 3:16, 17-- All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..

That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work if we have more than what the scriptures provide then it is not a good work. Doing something will not suffice, unless it is doing what the Lord says. Noah could not just build a boat. Not just any boat would have floated. Why GOPHER WOOD? Boy, what a drag!! Why not just what is convenient, at hand??

Deut. 12:32 -- "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
Does this sound like man can devise his own doctrine..
Do what I command you.....do not add to, nor diminish from.....
In other words do AS- I- SAY

2 John 9 --- Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son..

We are Limited by the teachings of Christ, what He authorizes.
How can I know what the Lord wants me to do??? Just Listen to what He says. My ideas will never count.

Rev. 22:18, 19 -- For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Do not add to; do not take away from...

IV. WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN SATISFIED JUST TO SAVE THE ONES THE

LORD SAID SHOULD BE SAVED?

1 Pet. 3:20-- who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

8 souls saved. Is that all Lord??? What about the rest??, The rest of the world.. How can God be so cruel.. God is a God of love.

2Th 1:8 tells us (in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Pe 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

What do these scriptures tell us about the God of Love?
This God of love is also a just God.,< disobedience requires punishment >
How often do men today attempt to smoothe over what the Lord says.

Mt. 7:13, 14 -- "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Many to be lost; few to be saved. We need not try to soften what the Lord has said. But, is not that harsh language. Sure it is, but it is also truth. It is God's Word Not saying that we should be pleased with the fact that the multitudes will be lost. Surely, Noah took no consolation when he saw the masses who refused him, drowning in the flood. But, it was not Noah's decision.

It was their decision; Did they not have opportunity to hear and obey Noah's warnings.
Often the prejudicial question is asked: "Do you believe that only the members of the church of Christ are going to be saved?" Actually it matters not what I do or do not believe. What does God's Word say??? We shall all be judged by the word that Jesus gave -- John 12:48.
    "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

Mark 16:16-- Tells us.. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

This is what Christ commanded and I cannot remove it, nor lessen the demands of it. And, if the whole world refuses it, it still stands. They will be lost..

Conclusion:
    1. What is my attitude toward what God has told me to do? What is yours???
    2. Our attitude determines what we would have done had we been Noah.
    3. Would you build??? Or would you go your merry way and ignore what he

        said?? Lord, don't bother me right now. maybe later..
    4. What a sobering thought. To be faced with the decision of whether or not

        to obey the commandments of the Lord. But then, we have the same

        choice as did Noah.
    5. It took FAITH on the part of Noah. And, it will take FAITH on your part.
    6. Do we believe that God will condemn us to Hell if we obey not his gospel,,

        He said he would, can we believe it..

Brethren God will DO exactly what he has said... Remember, He killed everyone in the world except 8 people because they did not turn to him when they had opportunity..
They chose to ignore God..
How about you,, Are you ignoring God,, Are you going to spend eternity in hell because you don't believe that God will send you to hell,, or maybe later you will heed his calling.
There may not be A later, as was the rich man.. Tonight your soul may be required to meet judgment.
If you would like to make your soul right with God today.. DO as he has commanded..

Invitation

Jack Thompson