Articles
Refusing To Enter The Ark
Can you imagine what it was like for those outside of the ark once the “fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened” (Genesis 7:11)? What were they thinking as the flood waters rose? Did they have time to think? If so, did any of them suddenly realize how right Noah was and how foolish they were for not entering the ark?
The tragedy of Noah’s story is it is being repeated today. Jesus said, “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:38-39). The devices that occupy our attention are different than that generation, but the acts of being distracted and ungodly are still the same. The majority of the world refuses to fear God and keep His commandments; choosing rather to dismiss His promise of an upcoming judgment (Acts 17:30-31). When He does finally bring this world to an end, the majority of people will be doing the same things as Noah’s generation: living for everything else except God.
What Noah’s ark was to his generation is what Christ is to our generation, in terms of salvation. The only ones who survived the flood were those in the ark. They only one who will survive the fiery judgment of hell are those in Christ. For, “Christ is the Head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). Salvation and eternal life are in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 5:11).
Noah had to trust God’s word to build the ark, long before the flood waters encompassed the earth (Hebrews 11:7). The same is true today regarding Christ. It takes faith to believe in His saving power and to enter His body, the church, before the final judgment. “For you are all sons of God trough faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). Unfortunately, many are dismissing these words by clinging to manmade doctrines instead: “Just ask Jesus into your heart and you’ll be saved”, many say, “baptism will not save you”.
Those who reject entering Christ through water baptism are the same who would have criticized Noah for building and entering the ark. “We’re saved by faith through grace, Noah, not by works!” But, Noah ignored his critics and walked by faith in God’s blueprint. Anyone who expects to be saved from sin must fear God more than man and walk by faith in Jesus’ blueprint, which clearly requires faith (Matthew 7:24-27), repentance (Luke 13:3, 5), confess Jesus as Christ (Matthew 10:32-33), and baptism (John 3:3-7), for the remission of sins and salvation (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:35-39). Thus, if you are wise you will enter the ark before it’s too late. Forget what your family and friends might think of you. Think about God and how much you should love Him more. Your family can’t save you from your sins and the eternal, fiery consequences. You need Christ to do that. Be wise and submit to God in faith by moving with godly fear in obedience to His will. It may not seem like it now, but one Day you’ll be glad you trusted in God to enter the ark of Christ – as the flames of eternal death encompass the earth.
