Just a Window
By Aaron Beard, July 21, 2002

Hello, my name is Noah.  This world that I am living in has become increasingly wicked.  My family and I are the only ones left who are righteous before God.  God came to me a while back and told me that He was going to flood the world and destroy it.  He would save my family only.  He gave us specific instructions to build this really big wooden vessel that would float on top of the water and keep us safe.  None of us had ever seen rain before, much less a flood.  As I began gathering supplies and constructing the ark, people thought I had completely lost my mind.

Yesterday, as I was putting the finishing touches on the ark, someone came to me and suggested that it would be really nice if I installed an extra window or two in our living quarters.  That idea sounded really good.  It would be great to be able to look out and watch the rain and flood waters from our room.  The idea seemed harmless enough.  How much difference could a window make anyway.  It would not affect the ark's buoyancy.  Mrs. Noah especially liked the idea.

I was giving this some thought when I remembered these words of the Lord: "You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above..." (Genesis 6:16)  An extra window would have been nice, but God did not want that.  He told me to build one window and told me exactly where to put it.  If I added another window, this would violate the instructions God gave to me and the ark might sink.  As good as the idea sounded, I knew I couldn't create one.

As I finished the ark, the man that suggested making an extra window came to me and asked why I did not create one.  I explained that God said to build one window.  This man then replied, "Your God never said that you could not build two, so go ahead and make it.  He won't care."  I further explained that God did not tell me I could not build one; however, he gave me instructions on what to do, and since He did not include an extra window, I could not make one.

An extra window seems very insignificant to us, however, God spoke and gave Noah instructions and expected Noah to follow those exactly.  Jeremiah 10:23 says, "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps."  The word of God needs no additions or changes.  2 Timothy 3:16 and 17 reads, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."  The Bible is God's completed revelation telling man how to serve Him.  If God wanted us to do things any differently, He would have told us so.

There is an attitude that underlies the activities that many churches are engaging in today.  It is an attitude of "the ends justify the means."  The amount of good that is accomplished is greatly emphasized.  When reaching out to the communities, appeals are made by focusing on how many people they help financially, daycare programs, basketball teams, youth groups, food and entertainment.  What is neglected is the fact that God did not authorize the church to engage in those activities.  No matter how good something may seem to us, if God did not authorize our doing it as a church, then it is not right to engage in the activity.

The Lord knew exactly what He was doing when establishing the church.  He knows what is best for the church and how He wants its affairs carried out.  Jesus said, "I will build My church..." (Matthew 16:18)  No matter how much more efficient it may seem to us to do things differently, we must be certain we are always following His plan.  Worshipping God in "spirit and in truth" (John 4:24) includes doing it the way He has specified.  Though it may be "just a window" to us, to God it is being in rebellion to His word.

(Note: The thoughts exchanged between Noah and the other man are completely fictional and are not found in scriptures, however, the principles that lie behind them are.)

--Aaron Beard