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Let pick up the story of Noah and the flood in Ch 6: 17

I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.

So, the purpose of the flood is to bring about the destruction of everything that breaths. This emphasizes the universality of this destruction. However, there will be an exception, look at versus 18-20 

But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you.Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.

(Gen 6: 18-20) 

In other words, he's saying I'm going to destroy everything, but I'm also going make a promise to ensure life survives on the earth and I'm going to do it through you Noah and your family.

You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.” Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

(Gen 6: 21-22) 

Bottom line, Noah believe the Lord. Bottom line, Noah did exactly as he was told. In the New Testament Hebrews helpfully gives us some extra background to the story.

Noah being divinely warned of things yet not seen moved with godly fear prepared and ark for the saving of his household by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

(Heb 11: 7) 

Noah had faith, he believed the Lord and he obeyed the Lord. Peter in his 1st letter tells the recipients that Noah preached for 120 years warning of this coming judgement. The sum of these verses tells us is in the midst of a corrupt and violent world God commissioned a man to obey him and to create a safe place. He warned of what is happening, whilst at the same time creating a safe place to escape it. Remember back at the first part of the passage how Noah stood in stark contrast to those around him. So, what’s the spiritual lesson for us? Noah listened to the Lord did what he was told to do, but it all began with Him just believing the Lord 

God spoke, Noah listened Noah lived in a world that has turned its back on God and that degenerated into violence The great stark contrast in this passage is that some hear the word of God and respond in faith and obedience and as a result they find a safe place. A sanctuary where you can find salvation and be blessed whilst others descend into and wickedness and violence. We have probably heard this story all our lives have you ever realized that at the point Noah built his sanctuary, it had never rained. Then the Lord comes and say Noah I want you to build a boat because I'm going to send a flood. It's gonna rain for 40 days and nights and Noah probably said, what's rain? I've never seen rain. God says I'll talk about that later just build the ark. Do you think the people around him laughed at him? People said, what are you doing that for. Noah’s answer, “because the Lord told me to”. 

We too can be condemned by the world as we try and build God place of safety on this earth. Many pastors and bible teachers have come to this passage before me and have pointed out that the ark is an illustration, a metaphor for the church. The ark is where people went to escape God's judgment. But notice the ark only had one door. 

There is one door in the New Testament also, and it tells us that Jesus Christ is that one door. Jesus himself said, “I am the way the truth and the life, and no one comes to the father except through me”. So, you want to be safe, you want to get too heaven and have your sins forgiven. Simply get in the ark through the one door. In the New Testament that simply means trusting in Jesus Christ. 

The story begins with Noah finding grace in the eyes of the Lord and grace came through faith. It begins with faith it ends with faith, and Noah doing what the Lord told him to do.  The bottom line is we live in a very wicked world. All we need to do is reject the ways of the world and to believe the Lord and do what he tells us to do. But it also means warning others of the danger of living by the world standards and believing in the lord and working for as long as the Lord grants you time to help build his safe place on this earth. To build his church, his sanctuary, his haven, his ark for others wanting to escape the violence and judgement of this world. Then those that want to can step through that one door that brings an escape from violence and destruction and salvation from sin judgement and the promise of blessing and glory to come.