Faith, Obedience, and Perseverance: Lessons from Noah

Noah is the picture of one who is the Lord's witness during evil days, and lives through them faithfully, enduring unto the end. It was his to be delivered from death by death. The ark was so to speak a coffin to him; he entered it and became a dead man to the old world, and within its enclosure he was floated into a new world, to become the founder and father of a new race. [00:02:15]

Faith must be a constant tenant, not an occasional guest. I have heard of latter-day saints, and I do not think much of them. I far more admire everyday saints. Thou need his faith this Sabbath day, have it and come to the communion table with it, but thou need his faith on Monday when the shutters are taken down to begin another six days trading. [00:06:47]

Noah believed what seemed highly improbable, if not absolutely impossible. There was no sea where Noah laid the keel of his ark. I do not even know that there was a river there. He was to prepare a seagoing vessel and construct it on dry land. How could water be brought there to float it? [00:11:14]

Noah believed alone and preached on though none followed him. There were no other believers if you accept his wife and his sons and daughters. There were eight in all, but I am afraid that some of these rather believed in Father Noah than in the living God. Noah shone as a lone star. [00:14:06]

Noah believed through 120 solitary years. It was a long martyrdom. Our life is quite long enough for the trial of faith, even if a man lives to be 80 and has 60 years of that life spent in the exercise of faith. It is only by almighty grace that he holds out. [00:17:21]

Fear was the moving force. Faith was the living principle, but fear was the moving power, for the text puts it, by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear. Faith molded him, but fear moved him. How was this? I thought, says what, that perfect love casteth out fear. [00:21:35]

Noah had a loyal reverence of God. He feared him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and when he went about through the wicked world, Noah often said to himself, I wonder the judge of all the earth does not destroy these rebels who dare to be so vile and violent. [00:24:23]

Noah obeyed the Lord exactly. How often does the scripture say, thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. See again and again, Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him. Those who have faith in God should show it by a holy fear, which makes them zealous to have nothing undone which is commanded of the Lord. [00:29:28]

Noah obeyed the Lord very carefully. God said to him, make an ark, and we read in answer thereto that he prepared an ark. There was careful preparation and not hurried thoughtless activity. He prepared the right materials; he prepared the different parts so as to fit together. He prepared his mind and then prepared his work. [00:30:35]

Noah went on obeying under daily scorn. The men of that generation mocked him. He went out and preached to them, but many would not hear him, for they thought him mad. Those who did listen to him said to each other, he is building a vessel upon dry land. Is he sane? [00:33:19]

The next result was that he condemned the world. Read by which he condemned the world. Hahaha, they say we judge the old man to be out of his mind, but he was their judge. The merious jest that flashed forth at the banquet of wine was pointed with a sarcasm about old Noah and his dry land ship. [00:40:26]

The last thing Noah earned by his faith was this: he became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. For God said of him when he obeyed him, come into the ark, thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. God declared him righteous, not righteous by his works, although his works following upon his faith proved him to be righteous. [00:45:02]