Why Noah Put Forth No Effort to Change the World
In the midst of his evil generation (Gen 6:5), Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet 2:5). He saw the evil deeds of those around him. He received the Word of God that instructed him to prepare the ark of salvation for him and his family (1 Pet 3:20). These were the eight souls saved in the Great Flood of God’s judgment, some 2,487 years before Jesus Christ.
Noah is an Old Testament type of Christ, who came to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). God is faithful to save those He has chosen to have mercy on (Rom 9:15, 18, 23), by calling them to come to the ark of their salvation, Jesus Christ (Mt 11:28). They come to Jesus because God irresistibly draws them to His Son (Jn 6:44).
In these days of pending global destruction, we must be “moved with fear,” having been warned of God of things not seen as yet (Heb 11:7). Jesus Himself issued the warning, in His Olivet Discourse, that His second coming would resemble the days of Noah (Mt 24:37), with the same effect (Lk 17:27). God is bringing final destruction to the heavens and the earth He created (2 Pet 3:10–12).
God patiently waited (100 years) for Noah to build the ark. God is patiently waiting, today, not desiring for any of His elect people to perish (2 Pet 3:9). Christ is building His church (Mt 16:18), comprised of all people that the Father gives to Him (Jn 6:37; 17:2, 6, 24; Eph 1:4–5).
Peculiar to these parallel stories of judgment and salvation is the contrast between the imperative to prepare the ark, and the church’s present emphasis on “changing the world.” This common phrase has no biblical basis to it, but it is popular for its altruism. It is a false gospel, however.
God has no plans to change the world, nor does He commit such a task to His people to do so. Simply put, the Gospel is Christ building His ark and calling His people to enter. Many hear the warning of the coming Day of the Lord (Ps 110:5; Zeph 1:18), but few are chosen to heed the call to be saved (Mt 22:14). In other words, it takes an act of God’s irresistible grace to compel them to trust Christ for their eternal salvation (Eph 2:8–9).
People who love the world and the things of the world wish for the world to continue forever, as it has from the beginning. So there is nothing new under the sun (Eccl 1:9), despite the arrogant claims of false messiahs, peddling fear and greed to get rich in the world’s goods. They deceive the multitudes with their marketing and advertising campaigns. These result in the creation of impoverished consumers, of a false gospel of temporary happiness.
The gospel of being nice to people is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of a well-fed, well-clothed, well-sheltered mass of humanity is still destruction. This has been the struggle between evangelicals and liberals for more than two hundred years. The social gospel feeds and clothes the lost, while the evangelical gospel targets souls.
Noah, Abraham, Lot, and Israel all demonstrated an exclusive interest and care for their families. Even Jesus came to the house of Israel — at that time — mostly Jews. Even with the Gentile inclusion (Acts 10, 15, 16, et al.), God is forming one holy nation in Christ (1 Pet 2:9).
The church is to be separate from the world (2 Cor 6:17), in the same manner of separation in Old Testament Israel (Lev 20:25). It is true that Christians are in the world, but we are not to love the world (1 Jn 2:15–16). So is it then our task to change the world to become the church?
According to post-millennial eschatology, the Christianization of the world is our task. In this, Abraham Kuyper and Noah look very different. Liberal Christianity is constrained to deny the doctrine of God’s final judgment, on the last day of history, which is prophesied throughout the prophets and apostles. This naturally leads to the denial of the doctrine of eternal punishment, in eternal hell, in the lake of fire that burns, forever (Mt 25:46; Jude 1:7; Rev 20:14–15).
Friend, you have heard of the global destruction, by the flood (Gen 6–9), and God’s covenant with the earth, to never destroy everything again with water (Gen 9:11). Sinners mock and provoke God, today, by taking and misrepresenting the rainbow sign (Gen 9:13, 16), to justify their libertine licentiousness. They eat, drink, and marry whoever and whatever they want to burn with, in their flesh. Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, so shall he reap (Gal 6:7). So, who will deliver you from the wrath to come (Mt 3:7; Lk 3:7; Rev 6:17)?
Christian, if you have entered Christ, the true and only ark that delivers you from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10), then you must forsake the world and the deceiving spirits that distract you, with a program to change the world. There is no hope and no change for that which God has destined for destruction. Rather, you must set your mind on things above (Col 3:2), seeking first the kingdom of God (Mt 6:33).
The kingdom of God on earth is spiritual (Rom 14:17); therefore, Christian labor and good works are done, as unto the Lord (1 Thess 1:3), in the Spirit. Our desire is for Christ, to be formed and to grow to maturity, in God’s redeemed people (Gal 4:19). To make Christ known, who is the only hope of salvation and glory, is our collective work. This will not change the world, but it will change hearts, lives, and eternal destinations.
It is the Lord’s work in us, and through us, to gather the company of the elect inside the ark of our salvation, that is, Christ Jesus, who is the destroyer of the world (Rev 19:11–21) and Savior of His people (Titus 1:4; 2:13; 3:6). Go to Him, today.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
July 18, 2022
