By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Hebrews 11: 7

I remember reading Bible stories when I was young and one of the most common stories is featured on the front cover of the illustrated Bible story book we have here for our grandsons. Can you guess?

Noah is much more than a children’s story about the Ark and animals boarding two by two. The story of Noah is one of a man who remained faithful to God in a very dark world full of people who rejected all that was good and just.

And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 6: 6-8

What follows is Noah’s story of a long obedience (120 years) to fulfill God’s plan to redeem mankind by saving Noah and his family. That plan included following the plans and building a detailed seaworthy vessel on dry land before it had ever rained. That’s faith in action, isn’t it.

And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

Genesis 6: 19-22

He built the boat, loaded the livestock and all the food that was needed and “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.”

Noah’s faith was demonstrated by what he did.

James wrote about the need to act –

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2: 14-17

How is faith at work in your life?