Noah followed God’s instruction, not his own. With the attitude of some about religion today the ark might have had six floors and a dozen doors.

Surely more room and more access would make the ark more comfortable for all on board. With all the extra room more animals could have been accommodated. Definitely God would have to be pleased with such an effort. WRONG! The words of Samuel to King Saul come to mind when things like this are offered as a reason to go beyond God’s instructions.

“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt God spoke concerning man’s ways and thoughts compared to His, through the prophet Isaiah, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isa. 55:8, 9). When it comes to things of a spiritual nature God has made it clear how He desires things to be done, and His way is best.

The thing we must remember is that God’s way is perfect.

The Psalmist wrote, “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him” (Psalm 18:30). The offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Sam. 15:22, 23).

God expected Noah to do as He said and He expects man today to do His commands, not what man thinks God wants. Man is instructed by God not to add or subtract from His word. That only makes sense. God created the world and everything in the world, shouldn’t someone follow His words and not their own wants?

God has meticulously brought the opportunity of salvation to mankind. His plan began before the world began, for God in His foreknowledge knew what man would do, yet God did not make man sin.

promises God has made always come true.

Man left to himself will and has developed his own plan for salvation. God has already provided the plan to follow and has given us examples of those who followed it, and His way is best for it is the only way. Read the book of Acts. The people heard the word; they believed, were willing to repent of their sins, confessed that Jesus is the Son of God and were baptized for the remission of their sins.

God has told us that His will must be obeyed. “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). God has provided only sacrifice that can remove sin – Christ.

We will be judged according to the words of the Lord and not man’s ideas or notions; we must see the need for a true standard in religion. That standard must God provided the sacrifice (Christ), for the sins of all mankind. His love is seen in every look one takes at the cross of Jesus. God had His word recorded so man could know God’s law and He has had patience so that man could have time to obey Him. Paul wrote, “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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).

What is left to be done? It is for man today to do as did Noah. “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he” (Gen. 6:22).

The word of God tells man how to accept God’s grace. Salvation is offered to all, but just as a gift must be received to be enjoyed, be and is the inspired word of God. “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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (II Tim. 3:16, 17). Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (II Peter 1:20, 21).

The standard is not to be altered by man. Notice how God in His word has told man this time and time again. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you (Deut. 4:2). Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found so must God’s grace be received. Man must have faith, even as Noah had faith. Man must repent of sins, confess that Jesus is the Son of Godand then be baptized for the remission of sins. Just as Noah was saved by water so must man be today.

“Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 3:20, 21).

Obey God while you have the time and opportunity to do so.

a liar. (Prov. 30:6) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Rev. 22:18, 19). We will not be judged by the words of men but by the words of the Lord. Men seek to put forth their ideas and not follow the standard given by God. How tragic is this fact.

Men down through time have tried to come up with other ways of pleasing God. Some turned to making idols, while others have tried to change God’s commands to suit their own way of thinking (Rom.

1:22-25; Matt. 15:9). Following God’s way is the only way.