The Herd

Have you ever been kept up at night thinking about what the story of Noah has to do with the story of our lives as Christians?  If not, don’t worry because I did that for you last night.  I went back to the story of Noah, contained in the pages of Genesis chapter 6 through 9, and I think it has a to do with our lives set apart from the world.  This story not only highlights the call Christians have to live on earth while maintaining a heavenly perspective, but also shows us a perspective of perseverance in the face of opposition. 

The passage begins depicting the state of the world that Noah was living in.  Genesis 6:5 sets the mood by stating “the Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” As I read this passage, I can’t help but feel as though we grow ever closer to that state of the world.  We have rampant profanity, sexual degradation, blatant destruction of the nuclear family/marriage/and parenting, and the culture is flagrantly mocking Jesus and his death.  Amidst the failing society, Noah, was described as a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and one who walked faithfully with God (Genesis 6:9). 

The contrast of the culture and Noah is not meant to be overlooked amidst the miracles later in the story.  If we are to arrive at the conclusion that Noah and his lineage are the only humans worthy of sparing, we must take the time to ask why? 

Perspective #1: Clear Vision

Its clear that despite the chaos, backlash, and outright persecution Noah faced for his decision to build the ark, his vision was clear.  However, do you think that Noah knew all the answers? Absolutely not!  See, having a clear vision isn’t meant to mean you need to understand and even support the direction God is sending you in, but it does mean you clearly trust the one who does have those answers.  Noah understood his assignment as much has God needed him to, and he trusted that if the God of the universe is asking me to do this task, he has a purpose, he has a vision, and that vision is clear to him. 

The narrative then unfolds with the account of Noah actually building the ark.  The vision was clear, the instructions were defined, and now it was time for Noah to follow through.

Perspective #2: Follow-Through

As a people set apart from God, the follow through is as important as the initial belief.  To make a commitment to God’s vision and to understand your role within that vision, but to neglect it, is a blatant act of disobedience to God.  The apostle Peter speaks of this in 1 Peter 1:13. Peter states that, “preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded,” are both required to, “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you.” Peter then goes on in chapter 2 to say, “as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.”  God isn’t calling those who become priests to be the only ones among the holy priesthood, but all who come to him.  In that sense, we need to commit and follow-through with the vision God has set for us, because like priests, we lead and show the world God’s strength through our persistence. 

Perspective #3: Becoming Stakeholders

As the waters rose, Noah and his family found refuge in the ark, which he played a role in building.  Much like the ark, our refuge here on earth relies on Christians to play a role.  The lightbulb went off for me last night when I accepted the reality that Noah’s story reveals to us.  Christians are set apart from the world despite living in it, in part because we carry out the vision God intends for us.  God could have miraculously flooded the earth and spared Noah’s family without involving Noah in the building of the ark.  God could have spared the Israelites without the need for Moses’ repeated acts of faithfulness, and God can carry out his vision for our lives without incorporating us into the process.  Ownership is the point.  We see time and time again how God uses broken people to carry out his vision and through their follow-through, his glory is revealed.  God uses us because he knows that the obedience involved with following Christ creates a deeper connection with us. 

Have you ever been a part of a sports team and never actually participated in the game? Despite wearing the same jersey, despite showing up to the practice, and despite being associated with the people who do play in the games there is a degree of separation between you and the starting athletes. In the same vein, Christians who believe Christs death and resurrection, come to church, and might even read the scriptures but don’t act out the vision God has for their lives still find themselves on the outside looking in. If we look to James 2:17, he states, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” He goes further in 2:26 to say, “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

So, whether God calls you to build an ark, or to love your co-workers at the Wawa, his vision will be made clear to you.  The question to leave you with is whether you become a stakeholder by following through?