Chapter Two / Noah - Conclusion of "Make for Yourself an Ark"

As the years passed by and the ark took shape, Noah must have been so glad to have the support of his family! There was another aspect to the work that might have been even more challenging than ark-building. The Bible tells us that Noah was "a preacher of righteousness." (Read 2 Peter 2:5) So he courageously took the lead in trying to warn the people of that wicked, godless society about the destruction that was heading their way. How did they respond?  Jesus Christ later recalled that time, saying that those people "took no note."  He said that they were so caught up in the affairs of daily life-eating, drinking, and marrying-that they paid no heed to Noah.  (Matthew 24:37-39)  No doubt many ridiculed him and his family; some may have threatened him and violently opposed him. They may even have tried to sabotage the construction project.  Despite evidence of God's blessing on Noah, people ridiculed him and ignored his message.

Yet, Noah and his family never quit. Even though they lived in a world that was geared toward making their primary pursuit in life seem trivial, misguided, or foolish, they still kept at it faithfully.  Christian families today can thus learn a great deal from the faith of Noah and his family.  After all, we live what the Bible calls "the last days" of this world's system of things.  (2 Timothy 3:1)  Jesus said  that our era would be just like the era in which Noah built the ark. If the world reacts to the message about God's Kingdom with apathy, or even persecution, Christians do well to remember Noah. They are not the first to face challenges. 

Next time: Chapter Two / Noah -"Go . . . Into the Ark" 

From the jw.org publications