Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great London preacher, found in Noah’s life the principle that “every act of faith condemns the world.” “By faith Noah . . . moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7). 

Commenting on that verse, Spurgeon said: “Live a holy life . . . . I have heard it said that if there is a crooked stick, and you want to show how crooked it is, you need not waste words in description. Place a straight one by the side of it, and the thing is done directly. Noah condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

The New Testament calls Noah “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), even though none of his “sermons” are recorded in the Bible. Perhaps it was Noah’s obedience to God in building the ark that stands as his greatest witness to a self-centered and violent generation. “According to all that God commanded him, so he did” (Genesis 6:22).

How easy it is to be critical of the sins of others. But how much more powerful to demonstrate the grace and righteousness of our God by living for Him.  — David C. McCasland