“You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:14(ESV).
“And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22(ESV).
Growing up, I believed the story of Noah’s Ark was simply about a man who built a gigantic boat to save his family and the animals from a great flood. However, reflecting on this story, I realize it also emphasizes Noah’s radical and unwavering obedience to God.
During Noah’s time, the people were so wicked that they grieved God. He regretted creating humanity and decided to wipe out all His creations except for Noah. God confided in him and instructed him to build a specific ark to preserve His creation for a future world. Genesis 6:22 states, “Noah did all that God commanded him.” Not just some, but ALL that God commanded him to do. Noah obeyed God wholeheartedly.
The ark was massive—about one and a half times the length of a football field, as wide as a football field, and four and a half stories high. Noah had never seen rain before and didn’t know when it would begin. Given these conditions, he had every right to resist. Yet, without arguments, defiance, or questions like “But God…” or “Are You Sure?” he took his axe, began chopping Gopher wood, and built the ark as instructed. The flood occurred 120 years later; the earth was destroyed, and Noah, his family, and the animals in the ark were saved.
Noah must have stood out as different. Can you imagine the mockery, laughter, and questions he faced from his unbelieving neighbours? If it were today, social media would be filled with comments like, “Noah seems to have a few screws loose!” “Where’s the rain, Noah?” or “I can’t imagine what his wife and family are going through.” To those around him, it must have seemed like a joke! Despite the doubts and ridicule, Noah remained faithful and steadfast amid uncertainty, isolation, and possibly abuse. Although he couldn’t see the end from the beginning, he believed in and trusted God’s plan. That exemplifies radical, enduring obedience.
After ten years of rebellious living, I renewed my commitment to following God about twenty years ago. A year later, I felt the Lord calling me to step away from my friends, who were all non-believers. Although this request wasn’t nearly as monumental as God’s request to Noah, I didn’t comply immediately and questioned it extensively. These friends were not only my colleagues; I didn’t have relatives living close by, so they were like family to my daughter and me. Therefore, I pushed back with questions and justifications: “What? But God… How could I be salt if I remove myself from an unseasoned world? How will I tell them about Jesus?”
Initially, I tried to ignore God. I allowed my over-analysis of the situation—worrying about what my friends would think of me and my fear of not knowing “what would happen next”—to override my desire to please Him. So, I compromised by partially obeying; I distanced myself socially but didn’t fully walk away. Over time, the Holy Spirit’s nudges grew stronger, and the pressure of living on two paths became confusing and devoid of peace. Still, I didn’t fully walk away. Instead, I prayed to find a way to please both God and my friends.
After several months of inner turmoil, I began praying for the strength and courage to do what God asked me to do. Shortly thereafter, I noticed flaws in my beliefs regarding what was acceptable, comfortable, and secure. I realized I was participating in gossip sessions, laughing at crude jokes, indulging in back-biting, and tolerating constant mockery of my relationship with God. One day, it hit me: I wasn’t behaving any differently from my unbelieving friends. How could God use me as salt if I was like the unseasoned world? It took me a year after He spoke to me to understand this and to finally step away from those relationships. It wasn’t easy, but God guided me through the fallout.
God understood what I needed even better than I did. He wanted me to rely on Him rather than on human frailty. God recognized my heart’s divided state and saw their influence over me. He knew living on two different paths would hinder His plans for my future. I couldn’t see it at the time, but in hindsight, I realized I couldn’t walk with my Heavenly Father while my friends dictated my thoughts, words, actions, and listening habits.
Sometimes, God won’t trust you with the future until you allow Him to heal your past or realign your present. God was there all along, waiting for my total surrender. He didn’t leave me alone; instead, He had an incredible plan to fill the void I feared would be left in my life. Gradually, He brought me new, strong, believing friends who were more numerous and supportive than those I thought I couldn’t live without. God often will not reveal the next step or moment in His plan until we obediently surrender to Him. We don’t need to see the “full picture” to obey; we simply need to trust God.
What is God calling you to do? I encourage you to respond by taking the next step in obedience. Please don’t make the mistake I did—partial obedience is still disobedience. Don’t hesitate or sit on the fence. You may not know what’s coming, but God does, and His plans are better than anything you think is good for you. His promises depend on your obedience today. It may feel scary at times, but remember, He will be with you every step of the way. So, go all in—don’t hold back—and watch what He will do.
