Last week we noticed the obedience of Noah to God’s instructions.
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 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.
God has meticulously brought the opportunity of salvation to mankind. He provided the sacrifice (Christ), He 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.
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, 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 God and 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. Study the Bible and allow faith to develop (Rom. 10:17), repent of your sins (Luke 13:3), confess before men that Jesus is the Son of God (Matt. 10:32,33), be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38), and live for the Lord all your life (Rev. 2:10).