52
From Eternity Past
years. Building this immense structure was a slow process. On account
of the size of the trees and the nature of the wood, much more labor
was required then than now to prepare timber. All that man could do
was done to render the work perfect, yet the ark could not of itself
have withstood the storm. God alone could preserve His servants upon
the tempestuous waters.
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet,
moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the
which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness
which is by faith.”
Hebrews 11:7
. While giving his warning message,
his faith was perfected and made evident, an example of believing just
what God says. All that he possessed he invested in the ark. As he
began to construct that immense boat, multitudes came from every
direction to see the strange sight and to hear the earnest words of the
preacher.
Many at first appeared to receive the warning, yet they did not turn
to God with true repentance. Overcome by the prevailing unbelief,
they finally joined their former associates in rejecting the solemn
message. Some were convicted and would have heeded the warning,
but there were so many to ridicule, that they partook of the same spirit,
resisted the invitations of mercy, and were soon among the most defiant
scoffers. None go to such lengths in sin as do those who have once
[54]
had light but have resisted the convicting Spirit of God.
The men of that generation were not all idolaters. Many professed
to be worshipers of God. They claimed that their idols were repre-
sentations of the Deity and that through them the people could obtain
a clearer conception of the divine Being. This class were foremost
in rejecting the preaching of Noah, and they finally declared that the
divine law was no longer in force, that it was contrary to the character
of God to punish transgression. Their minds had become so blinded
by rejection of light that they really believed Noah’s message to be a
delusion.
The world was arrayed against God’s justice and His laws, and
Noah was regarded as a fanatic. Great men, worldly, honored and wise,
said, “The threatenings of God are for the purpose of intimidating and
will never be verified. The destruction of the world by the God who
made it and the punishment of the beings He has created will never
take place. Fear not, Noah is a wild fanatic.” They continued their