essay
NOAH’S CHOICE
- NOAH’S CHOICE “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matt 6:24) Mathematicians simplify problems by reducing them to their lowest common denominator. The fraction 1,000,000,000 over 2,000,000,000, for example, can be reduces to 1 over 2. This lowest common denominator does not change the facts, but merely makes them easier to visualize. In the above text Jesus reduced all the complex decisions of life to their lowest common denominator. Ultimately everyone serves only one of two masters. In this regard, when Noah came out of the ark he had a simple decision to make. It may have been difficult, but it was not complicated. Noah could choose either to serve God, or possessions. Since he couldn’t see God, he had to make his decision by faith. In the final analysis, this is the same decision that all of us must make. We too must make our decision by faith! Noah and his family had been in the ark for over a year (compare Gen. 7:11 and Gen. 8:14). The waters prevailed upon the earth for 150 days (Gen. 7:24). This means that the ark landed on the Mountains of Ararat 7 months before Noah dared to open the door. Not only was the past year frightening, but the future was also frightening. Please consider:
- Noah was leaving the ark which had been the source of his security and food for the past year. When the left the ark his future was unknown.
- One unknown aspect of the future involved the weather. After the flood Noah would face the extremes of cold and heat, and summer and winter, which he had never experienced before (Gen. 8:22). This change in the weather would make it more difficult for Noah to grow a crop, feed his family, and keep from freezing.
- Thus, when Noah came out of the ark he faced the same choice that Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount. He could serve God, or he could serve his possessions.
- Fortunately, Noah chose to serve God. This is evident from the fact that before making provision for his own survival, he built an altar, sacrificed some of his precious animals and birds. Noah sought first the Kingdom of God! Just think about it! Supposed you were marooned on a desert island with only a few animals and birds to help you survive, and no shelter from inclement weather. What would you do first? Would you take your precious time and energy to first build an altar and worship God, or would you first build a shelter for yourself? Would you dare to sacrifice to God some of your few animals and birds, or would you save them for yourself as security? Remember! It is either - or! Noah could not serve both God and money. He had to make a choice. So do we! Jesus promised that if we seek “first” to serve God, then God would help us secure all of our earthly needs. God is a Jealous God! He always demands first place in our lives. While we are not saved by works, God has never designed pleasing Him to be convenient. Just as Noah needed to take time from a selfishness to build an altar, we also must deny ourselves to follow Christ. Remember! Crosses are not designed to be convenient! (Lk. 9:23). Felix was appointed to be a governor in Judea by the Emperor Claudius. When Paul reasoned with him about righteousness, self control, and judgement, Felix was afraid. Instead of receiving Christ, however, he postponed that decision and said to Paul: “when I find it convenient I will send for you” (Acts 24:25). This was a fatal decision for Felix. It is never “convenient” to serve God! Noah made his choice, and so did Felix. What choice will you make?