Courtesy Photo.
Hebrews 11:7 says, “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.”
Can you imagine the story of Noah playing out? Here is a man who builds a boat for 120 years and then two of every kind of animal suddenly appears to embark upon a journey with a family…all of whom are living in a time where there has never been one single drop of rain. It seems ridiculous, right? Well, there are a lot of things in the Bible that our human minds cannot explain away…for His thoughts are far greater than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).
But think, for a moment, about Noah’s incredible act of faith. This simple (and profound) act saved his family…and it saved yours too. Are you facing a flood in your own life? Floods are inevitable.
Noah’s flood was filled with judgment and ridicule. People thought he was crazy, building a boat when no one had seen a drop of rain or walked through morning dew. You can probably hear Noah’s neighbors ridiculing his efforts. Building an ark just didn’t make sense to the carnal man.
Maybe you’re facing a flood of fear or financial lack, a physical trial or emotional strain. There’s nothing any of us can do to avoid the flood. All we can do is decide how we will act when the flood comes… and it WILL come, one day. Are you going to choose to find faith in the flood? If so…you will find an ark of salvation prepared just for you by a sovereign and holy God. We are more than conquerors through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, so we are not facing the storm alone.
Maybe you are facing a mountain of impossibility, surrounded by people telling you, “That’s never been done before.” Guess what? Noah heard exactly that. But he chose to act on his faith and follow God’s plan for his life.
Can you imagine God’s conversation with Noah? God begins to explain that Noah will need a boat.
Noah: “What’s that?”
God: “Noah, the rain is coming.”
Noah: “What’s rain?”
And the longer God tells Noah His plan, the more Noah realizes that he is completely unprepared for what God has told him is about to happen. Now Noah has two choices. Is he going to be of the mindset, “well, that’s never been done before, God?” Or, is Noah going to choose to follow God’s lead, acting in faith to build something called a boat?
How often do we disqualify ourselves from being a part of what God wants to do because we take the mindset of “well, that’s never been done before?” God reveals His plan. We see a problem. We can see God’s solution, the one He’s gently whispering to our spirit…but we throw it out because “that’s never been done before.” What will our friends think?
If you’re going to find faith in the flood…you will be tested. Faith isn’t faith until it’s tested. It’s just a feeling until all of a sudden you are walking through the fire, unscathed, knowing that if God is for you, who can be against you! You continue to move forward with God’s plan, in spite of what others around you are saying.
The faith that you have that God is a healer will not become true faith until it’s tested by sickness. The faith that you have that God is a provider will not be proven until you see an hour of great need. The faith that you have that God is a way maker will not come to pass until you see something that seems impossible, and the world around you is saying, “That’s never been done before.” But you maintain your belief in a God who never fails. God is too wise to make a mistake, and too loving to be unkind. His Word is true. He is for us, never against us…always acting in our best interest. He has brought you this far, moving mountains of impossibility…do you think He will leave you now? Absolutely not!
The story of Noah is a promise that God will never flood the earth again, and a story of great faith, of putting your faith into action. Noah proves that doing things man has never seen before is God’s specialty. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they are willing to walk out, in faith, the plans that God lays before them. Are you ready to reach out in faith, like Noah? Or are you still OK, settling for second rate…because “that’s never been done before?”
God wants great and miraculous things to be done in His name. He wants YOU to do them. He doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called. We each have a mission that has been divinely crafted for our lives…something that no one else can complete. When you hear that still, small voice…be ready to act. God has great things on the horizon! Reach out in faith, knowing that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to the day of its completion… (Philippians 1:6).”
Article Originally Published at jhm.org
