Obedience may be the last thing going through your mind when a train enters a dark tunnel. However, obedience is a part of it. By remaining seated, calm, and confident that the engineer will see it through, you are displaying a level of obedience. You are trusting the engineer in the darkened chasms to see you through to the light of day.
You are also trusting that the tracks are correctly installed and that all is in working order. That trust is a key attribute asked of passengers. And, in return for that trust, the engineer promises to see you through.
God asks for our obedience. And there is an even more certain promise that he truly is in control.
The Obedience and Favor of Noah
You may be familiar with this old Chinese proverb. It came immediately to mind when while reading Mark Batterson’s book, All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life. In that book, he shares that, Noah planted and felled the trees to make the ark. Though I don’t know that is says this in scripture, given that he lived hundreds of years, it’s entirely possible. I did some further research and found some info about Noah’s tree planting here.
Now just imagine getting a message that goes something like: “Hey dude (or dudette), there’s some really destructive stuff that’s gonna go down. Seriously destructive. I want you to do something. But first, you’re going to have to put in a third of your life or more just to have the materials to do that thing. And then, that thing is going to go on for what will seem like forever without any certain ending given to you. Oh yeah, people are going to call you insane from the very start, too.
That’s pretty much what happened to Noah. And he followed through. That’s faith. It’s confidence in God and his favor on your life. That’s obedience.
Noah’s story is one of obedience and faith. His incredible response to the ultimate engineer shows dedication to God and follow through that most of us would neglect. Here are a couple good questions to ask yourself for making sure you are not wasting time as you pursue your calling.
Your Obedience and Your Favor
I spend a lot of time thinking about all the time I have wasted in my life. I sometimes have those thoughts turning to regrets. How many times should I have been planting trees to do something else for God and his glory?
I think about that, and then, I think about the fact that God is never doing nothing. And my time hasn’t been wasted. God prepared me to be right where I am today. I detail this ordering of my life in Listen Up, Kids: Foolish Dreams, Syncing with God and Running to Win. In short, everything I did in my young life – things I now know I did more for myself – were God preparing me. Like Noah, I received a certain message from God.
And I am trying to respond in obedience as I seek his favor. The only question, now, is one I think we’d all be wise to ask ourselves from time to time.
[special]Am I planting trees or building an ark?[/special]
If I am doing neither, I may just be wasting my time on earth.
What about you?
Are you planting trees?
Building an ark?
How so?
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