By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11:7
When some settlers moved into a western valley to begin homesteading the fertile region, they included a young Christian couple who were expecting their first child. Sam and his wife chose a plot in the central part of the valley and began to work. Over the years, they raised a family of seven children, and developed a farm that supplied them with their needs. Concerned about his neighbours, Sam built a small chapel on the corner of his land, and invited the people to come each Sunday night to hear the Gospel being preached. At first, most of the neighbours showed up to hear Sam preach, but as the years went by, fewer and fewer showed any interest, and none, as far as Sam knew, ever trusted Christ. When he was an old man, a visitor pointed to the empty little chapel and asked Sam if all his Gospel efforts had been a waste of time. Sam admitted that he was deeply grieved that none of his neighbours had been saved. But no, he declared, it had not been a waste of time. Every one of his seven children were saved and living for their Lord. That is probably some of what Noah felt as he felt the flood waters lift the ark above the storm.
For one hundred years, Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). As he built the ark, he preached. He would have reminded people of their sinfulness. He would have explained the reason for the construction of the ark. And it is probably that he urged the antediluvian folks to take refuge in the ark when the flood came. We know that none took him up on the offer. But seven people did. Noah’s wife stood with her husband and entered the ark. So did Noah’s three sons and their wives. We know what Noah’s answer would be if we were to ask him if those 100 years of backbreaking carpenter work and those 100 years of preaching of righteousness were worthwhile. God calls us today to faithfully serve Him, to build whatever ark He sets before us. And He calls us to faithfully present the Gospel, whether by word or by consistent godly living. We may never see any results beyond our own family. But if God saves them, it will be worthwhile.
Everybody in the world today is descended from one of those three couples who emerged with Noah and his wife from the ark. More than 8.2 billion people today are the beneficiaries of Noah’s faithful preaching and preparing the ark. Have faith. God, through your family, can work wonders beyond your realization. – Jim MacIntosh