Hebrews 11:7

7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Noah lived 800 years, and was about 500 when his children were born, and God told him to start preparing for a flood. I believe Noah lived at a time that was very much like today. We will never really know how advanced Noah’s civilization was, because most of the evidence of it was wiped out in the flood. But the Word of God tells us it was scientifically and culturally advanced, but also a time of great lawlessness and violence.

It can sometimes be very challenging to be a Christian today. Much of society and culture look down on and actually ridicule and criticize what Christians believe. The lesson to be learned from Noah is that if he can be faithful and remain uninfluenced by the wickedness around him, we should be able to do the same!

Genesis 6:9

9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.

In an evil and perverse generation, Noah was able to keep his relationship with God on the right track. We can do the same today! How did Noah accomplish the will of God? He had a very detailed and specific set of plans and instructions from God, telling him what to do and how to live his life. Just as Noah had instructions, so do we. In the Word of God is a complete set of directions for how to live our life.

With complete faith in God, Noah was ridiculed and laughed at by everyone. He was mocked as he followed God’s directions, and built the ark as he preached to everyone about the coming flood. According to the Bible, it had never rained before, and no one had ever seen a ship!

Fortunately, Noah cared more about what God thought than about what people thought. The most important thing Noah had was faith. God did not show Noah actual proof of what was going to happen. But Noah never asked for proof either! He believed God and believed that what He told him was true.

The ship Noah built served to condemn the world – but it was not the actual ship, but Noah’s faith that condemned the world. Noah emphatically proved that a mature believer can remain faithful to God even in the worst circumstances and in the face of any opposition. For 120 years the entire world ridiculed and condemned Noah, but in the end the truth won, and Noah condemned the world.

So no matter what opposition or ridicule you may face, continue to have faith in your relationship with God. You never have to fight or defend yourself; God will ultimately win, and you will benefit along with Him.