The story of Noah, found in the Book of Genesis (Genesis 6-8) in the Bible, is rich with symbolic meanings and lessons. Many of us remember the story from childhood, especially if we attended Sunday school.

The core lessons often learned include:

The story illustrates God's judgment as He decides to cleanse the world of widespread wickedness through the flood. Simultaneously, it reveals God's mercy by sparing Noah, his family, and the animals. Noah is portrayed as a man of strong faith who follows God's command to build the ark, even when the task seems impossible, and he faces ridicule. After the flood, God establishes a covenant with Noah, symbolizing a fresh start for humanity.

The story of Noah teaches us that just as wickedness filled the world in his time, it will happen again. When that day comes, Jesus will return, God will judge the wicked, casting them into hell, and begin anew with those saved through Christ.

For many, the focus is on whether God will return one day and if they have given their life to Christ to secure a place in heaven. However, there's also an important message for us in the here and now.

The Moarl of the Story

Have you ever wondered what the people of Noah's time were doing while he built the ark, aside from ridiculing him as we’ve often been taught? They were living their lives, making plans, and building their futures, all while thinking Noah was wasting his life on something pointless.

When we hear the story of Noah and the wickedness of the people, many of us imagine scenes of drunkenness, orgies, and blatant acts of evil, distancing ourselves from the story as if it doesn't relate to us. While some of these things were happening, the true wickedness that God refers to is deeper: people had stopped believing in and listening to Him, choosing instead to follow their desires. The Bible says that every intent of their hearts was only evil, showing how completely they had turned away from God.

Many likely believed in the existence of God, but they didn’t truly believe in Him. They couldn’t accept a God who would ask them to build an ark instead of simply blessing them with all they desired. They struggled to believe in a God who wouldn’t allow them to indulge in the pleasures of the world He created. And they certainly couldn’t fathom a God who would wipe them off the earth for refusing to build that ark.

Noah believed in God wholeheartedly, and his heart was aligned with God's will. When God warned him of the coming flood, Noah trusted Him completely and remained faithful, obediently following every command. He built every part of the ark exactly as God had instructed, down to the smallest detail. While the world focused on building their own lives, Noah devoted himself to constructing what God had commanded. The people likely thought Noah was crazy or overly zealous for his faith. Yet Noah chose to go against the prevailing ways of the world and placed his trust in God, building his life firmly on His guidance.

The question for us becomes: What are we building? What are the intent and thoughts of our hearts? Are we busy building our lives founded on God? Is every word we speak, every decision we make, and every action we take directed and guided by God? Our lives can end at any moment. Are we building a life that shows we are ready to be taken from this world at any time? Are we storing up our treasure in Heaven, focused on the coming rapture? Or are we, like the people in Noah's day, building our lives as if this world is all that matters?

What's at stake?

The earth was flooded in Noah's day, and one day this earth will burn away. Noah spent most of his life building the ark, and once the floods came, he spent 150 days before God allowed him to exit the boat. Noah learned to trust God through his relationship of obedience. He developed a relationship with God that transcended the lusts of this world.

Are we developing a relationship with God, learning to trust in Him, or are we trusting in ourselves and this world? Are we learning that God transcends this world? After all, God is filling Heaven with those who trust in Him. Peace can only be attained when everyone is united with one mind. Heaven will be wonderful because we will have learned that God is the only one worthy of trust.

Noah lived for 950 years, spending a portion of that time building the ark and surviving the flood. But more importantly, his long life was marked by unwavering dedication to God, rooted in deep trust. One day, we too will leave this world and its struggles behind. The sacrifices we make and the trust we place in God's kingdom will be rewarded when we enter Heaven.

If Noah had refused to build the ark but instead followed the intentions of his heart and constructed his own life, would God have considered him a righteous man and saved him? His lack of belief would have caused him to drown. Will our lack of belief cause us to perish? Are we floating along the river, no different from the rest of the world, or are we going against the tide?

Some of us may be building a distorted version of an ark, something we want instead of what God commands. But will that ark float? Are we trying to live with one foot in the world and one in God’s, building a compromised ark and not even getting on board? And even if it manages to barely save us, what example are we giving the rest of the world? What are we expressing as important—this world or God and the future Heaven? As each generation keeps building their lives and time passes, each one will believe building God's ark is a waste of time. Soon, it will be forgotten what is truly important.

Is the intent of your thoughts and heart focused on this world or God's kingdom? Are you sure that when the earth passes away, or when your time comes, you have lived a life founded in God so that you will be saved?