Our Witness To This World

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world,

- Hebrews 11:7a

In discussing Noah and the great flood we sometimes get lost in the debate over the probability of such a great catastrophe actually happening or the logistics of how so many animals would possibly fit on one boat. These questions tend to miss the true point being made by God in the flood event. The Hebrew writer clarifies this when he states that Noah's building of the ark was a gesture or witness by which he condemned a sinful and unbelieving world.

In the same way, we today who are building the Church (the vessel by which we will be saved from the destruction of the material world) are condemning the present sinful and unbelieving world. Make no mistake! We may be reaching out, helping the poor, paying our taxes, and being good neighbors as Christians but the Church we belong to and are in the process of building is a modern-day witness.

When Jesus returns the Church will serve, as did the ark, to witness against all who refused to believe and seek safety for their souls. Both angels and men will thus be judged by its very presence.