It was by faith that Noah, who had been warned by God about things that were not yet seen, took the warning seriously and built an ark to save his household. He thus put the rest of the world in the wrong, and became heir to the righteous standing which accords with faith.
From this point on the author is gonna start hammering it home. We are going to look at one of the hero's of the faith at a time. Before we go any further though it's good to stop and acknowledge that this epistle is not some theological treatise, that's not it's primary intended purpose anyway. It is a pastoral letter. It is as much a narrative, as I hope I've brought out as we've moved through it, as the gospels. We have to always keep in mind who he's writing to and why and where and when. We serve the God of history and that is the back drop God has chosen to walk with us, get to know us, guide us, protect us and love us. It is with this reality in place that we can start to allow God to make life application for us. In other words, what the author intended to say is of greater importance than what I want it to say so that God can speak more clearly concerning His will rather that confusing it with my own imagination and thus what I'd like it to be saying.
Noah and judgment...I love Noah because he just walked humbly and did the right thing. He didn't picket, he didn't rally. He had a job to do and he did it to the best of his ability despite all opposition. He listened to God and did what was required of him and thus cast judgment on the naysayers and hecklers and persecutors. This is exactly what this congregation in Jerusalem needs to be reminded of. Destruction is coming. Yes to the mighty and glorious city of Jerusalem made with human hands judgment has been pronounced by God himself and the waters have already started to rise and carry away the weak hands in waves of dead works, dying ideologies, politics and misinterpretations of scriptures (Only God's interpretation really matters, how He works it out).
Be still and build the ark, be at rest and make haste... build up one another, build the body of Christ in love, gather in those of faith, what types of people out we to be when the fires come? A prepared people, not surprise by wrath or the judgments against those without faith, yet crying out for mercy and grace as we bear their burdens, we are their priests, their servant rulers...Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do. While we are responsible for being the Light of the world, it is not God's desire that we should shine it in people's faces. But that He should open their eyes and ears that they would choose to come into the Light and take refuge there in the midst of whatever storm may or may not be raging that season.
For this community in Jerusalem, life has been hard. By the time all is said and done there has been 40 years for this first generation to repent and turn towards the Lord, to worship in all it's various forms from evangelism to fellowship. Forty years for the first harvest or generation of the New Creation to grow and develop and be saved, to serve and suffer at the hands of the people for the people, to walk in all the good works prepared for them. He is a patient and loving God desiring mercy over judgment in Who's image we have been made, but vengeance belongs to Him alone and He will not be trifled with and He certainly will not have his name taken in vain forever nor his own decrees used against his people and purposes. There will come a time for heaven and earth, spirit and temple to flee (Mark 13v13-23) He despises such violence to His image, the image that is self-giving, self-sacrificing Love.
'Nobody knows what day or time this will happen,'Jesus went on. 'The angels in heaven don't know it, and nor does the son; only the Father knows. You see, the royal appearing of the son of man will be like the days of Noah.
What does that mean? Well, in those days, before the flood, they were eating and drinking, they were getting married and giving children in marriage, right up to the day when Noah went into the ark. They didn't know about it until the flood came and swept them all away. That's what it will be like at the royal appearing of the son of man.
Let us not be of those who are swept away, but let us seek to gather in as many as possible prepared to move when called.
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