Legacy Lessons W/Vance K. Jacksonনমুনা

“And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.” Genesis ‭8‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And the ark rested. Notice, after the Earth was flooded, after the washing away of evil and corruption, after the rain stopped, after the storm—the ark rested. In fact, according to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for ‘Ararat’ in Genesis‬ ‭8:‭4 KJV‬ is (ărārāṭ - H780), which means: “The curse reversed.” What a powerful moment!

The ark rested on the top of the mountains of Ararat—signaling that the curse was reversed. Sin establishes curses. Obedience establishes breakthrough. The ark rested on the top of the mountains of Ararat. Notice, the ark rested on the top of “mountains." Obedience elevates you. Submission promotes you. Noah obeyed God and was preserved.

Noah submitted to God and conquered mountains and every aspect of the world. When the world was in chaos—Noah found Grace in God’s sight. When no one followed God—Noah found Grace in the sight of God.

No matter if your world is in chaos—choose to follow God. Noah built the Ark before the flood formed. Before the storm came—Noah obeyed God. Noah built in the midst of cultural disintegration. When society was deteriorating—Noah obeyed God.

Noah built when the world said, “Why." Why build an ark when there wasn’t water nearby? Why build an ark so large? Noah spent time, allocated resources, and even staked his reputation building the ark.

Sometimes, oftentimes—you have to go against the grain of the culture in order to pursue a Promise that’s uncommon. To get uncommon results—you have to be willing to do that which is uncommon. Noah was building in the desert. Noah wasn’t building for what he saw—Noah built for what was coming.

Sometimes, you have to build for what’s coming. Sometimes, you build for the market that doesn’t exist—yet. Sometimes, you’re building for a world that doesn’t exist—yet. Noah built and saved his family. Noah’s family was protected by uncommonly obeying God, and when the storm came, and the flood rose—Noah was ready for the economic tsunami. Noah was ready for the economic overhaul. The ark was built to outlast the storm.

For Genesis‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declared, “And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;”

God remembered Noah. In the middle of the storm—God remembered Noah. In the middle of the storm—God remembers you. As you’re reading these words—God remembers you.

Noah obeyed God and generations were preserved. Your obedience today preserves future generations. Your obedience today serves as seed for the future. Future seed is predicated upon your obedience today. In fact, future generations depend upon your obedience today. Your legacy is predicated upon your willingness to obey God today.

What if Noah didn’t obey God? What if Noah didn’t build the ark? What if Noah didn’t follow God’s Instructions? Noah’s family would not have been preserved. If Noah did not obey God—his legacy would have drowned. Legacy is stunted at the point of your disobedience. Your faith propels legacy. Faith without your work ethic—is dead.

What if Noah’s work ethic had succumbed to the pressures of the world as he knew it before the flood. God destroyed the paradigm and platform in order to build something new. God wants to flood your past and build your future. Let everything go and create your future.

Let the past go. Let the last framework go. Let it go—whatever “it” may be and choose to build your new future. Let God use your hands to build something new. Arks don’t float in the desert. Arks are built for the storm. In time, you’ll understand why God gave you the instructions to build a certain way.

He told you to build “it” His Way. Like Noah, you may not have another example to follow. Like Noah, you may be building to preserve life—for another season. Like Noah, you’re not building for the crowd. Like Noah, you’re not building for the desert—you’re building for the flood.

You’re not building for the lack of today—you’re building for the flood of tomorrow. You’re not building for what you see today—you’re building for what’s coming tomorrow. It’s time to build.