On a mission trip in Russia, I heard the testimony of six men. It was a story of how faith and obedience will transform your life. All had been far from God, but each had someone praying for them. Each had tried to live life in their own way but were never satisfied. They all searched for something to fill the void they felt. Some used drugs, others tried to accumulate riches. But nothing seemed to work until Jesus began to transform them.
Each had a unique story of how the Holy Spirit drew them to faith. None of their plans had ever worked, but God changed that. Through their transformation they learned the wisdom of obeying the Lord’s direction. Obedience changed everything!
Noah’s Faith and Obedience
Noah is a great hero of faith in the Bible, but what made him so amazing? There were two things that were at the heart of Noah’s relationship with the Lord and that was faith and obedience.
Genesis 6:9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 10 Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! 14 “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. 15 Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Leave an 18-inch opening below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper. [1]
Noah was faithful and obedient to build the ark. Hebrews 11:7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith. [2]
You can be Faithful and Obedient
By being a person of faith and obedience, Noah was a tool in God’s hand that changed his life and others. Let the Lord help you do the same! Faith and obedience will transform your life.
Jesus tells us in Luke 16:10If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.[3] Is the Lord calling you today to a deeper faith and obedience? If you obeyed His calling, how would your life change for the better? What changes would you have to make?
To hear more about the faith and obedience of Noah, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/faith-makes-a-difference-noah
[1]-3 Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.