(Hebrews 12:1 NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

(Genesis 6:5-9 NLT) The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. And the LORD said, "I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing... But Noah found favor with the LORD. ... Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.

• When you don't see it, God always sees it.

(Hebrews 11:7 NLT) It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. ...

(2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT) For we live by believing (faith) and not by seeing.

• Your favor will impact your family.

(Genesis 6:8 NLT) ... Noah found favor with the LORD.

(Acts 16:31 NLT) ... "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household."

But they got on the boat!

• There is no such thing as partial obedience.

(1 Samuel 15:22 NLT) ... Obedience is better than sacrifice, ...

(Genesis 6:22 NLT) So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

(Genesis 7:5 NLT) So Noah did everything as the LORD commanded him.

• Truly believe His promise, He will never leave you!

(Genesis 8:11-13 NLT) This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone.... He waited another seven days and then released the dove again. This time it did not come back. Noah was now 601 years old. On the first day of the new year, ten and a half months after the flood began, ....Noah lifted back the covering of the boat and saw that the surface of the ground was drying.

(Matthew 28:20 NLT) Teach ... obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."