Recently, I took a trip to the Ark Encounter…a life-sized replica of the actual ark that Noah built. It is awe-inspiring, to say the least…but the thing that impacted me the most was this…
When Noah heard from God and began the long process of building the Ark, people thought he was crazy. They not only had never seen rain before, but they also wouldn’t have built a boat of that size in the middle of dry land…I mean, how on earth would they ever get something of that magnitude to the water?
He was building for tomorrow, today. This concept is similar to the one we discussed last week, in regard to David.
Noah heard God speak what was to come and he partnered with that word to build something that looked foolish to the world.
Friends, in this season, many of us are being called to build very differently than what’s been normal for many, many years. It’s a season of shifting and change. We cannot be afraid of that.
Imagine what would have happened if Noah was so self-conscious that he was unwilling to build the Ark. Remember, that only he and his immediate family were saved. All ancestry lines lead back to him. His obedience was necessary.
Yours is too.
What if the exact thing God is calling you to step out and have faith to do or build, is the thing that will provide for others when the “flood” comes?
Whatever God has called you to is of paramount importance. Will you say, “Yes”? Oh, how I hope you will.
Noah was misunderstood for many years. He was mocked even…but none of that mattered when the rain started to fall. You see…others may mock you and say you are crazy, but what will it matter when the “rain” comes?
Today, I hope you will make the decision to wholeheartedly lean into whatever God has called you to invest in. Even now, I am feeling God reinforce to my heart that I am to be sowing into family every single day. To put family first. To invite my family into all the things I do. To include them in any ministry I do. Family first, means that sometimes I encourage my kids to join me in things that stretch them, or that they say they don’t really want to do…but knowing that it’s God’s heart for us, means that I will continue to present myself and my work as an invitation to them. I will live as an invitation to the Presence of God.
Noah didn’t force anyone to join him in the building of the Ark. He didn’t force his family into the Ark. He invited them.
We can’t expect a good return on forced things. We simply lay out on invitation…and let people choose. I must let my children choose.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Genesis 6:11
I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant wit you, and you will enter the ark- you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. Genesis 6:17-18
365 Days in the Presence 