The Boat of Belief

“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark.” Hebrews 11:7

If the people on earth had seen rain before the flood, they hadn’t seen much—not enough to make them think that the guy down the street building the giant boat in his backyard hadn’t lost his mind. But God had spoken, and Noah was sure He meant what He said. Noah didn’t need to see the flood to have faith it was coming. “When warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear, [he] built an ark”(Heb. 11:7).

While Noah believed, the rest of the world blew God off. They discounted the truth that this “preacher of righteousness”(2 Pet. 2:5) declared with both his sermons and his saw. Day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, the boat got bigger. For decades the neighbors were awakened by the pounding of hammers (and we think a contractor is slow if he takes six months!). Tree after tree after tree was downed and dragged to the construction site, and the hardware store couldn’t keep enough sealant in stock. This triple-decker floating zoo, 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high, would be a refuge for the eight in Noah’s family during the forty day flood which would “destroy all life under the heavens”(Gen. 6:17).

Surely there were many taunts, sneers, and ridicules from a corrupt and violent world with no regard for God. No one on earth understood, but no on earth could distract him or deter him. Noah built the ark, and when all others gasped their final breaths, Noah and his family floated in safety.

That’s what faith will do. Faith will get you ready for the rising water, and faith will keep you floating in the flood. The world will never again be destroyed by rain(Gen. 9:15), but the daily deluge of troubles and sorrows often feels deep enough to drown in. Keep more than your chin up. “The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials”(2 Pet. 2:9). His ark of salvation will never sink. In His grace, we will sail in safety till we come to rest on His holy mountain(Gen. 8:4, Heb. 12:22).

Believe and climb aboard.