The Ark of Salvation
“They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the LORD shut him in.” (Genesis 7:15)
Genesis 7 marks a terrifying end to a lovely story. In the beginning, God created a world of goodness and splendor, yet one small act of sin would flood the world with filth. As Horatius Bonar would say: “[Sin is] an evil, an infinite evil; so great an evil, that He must not bury it out of sight, nor sweep it away, till He has made the whole universe look upon it and see its loathsomeness... Thus, God meant to show us ‘the exceeding sinfulness of sin,’ to teach us that it is not merely a calamity over which He grieves, but an evil which He utterly hates, and against which His wrath must be directed in all its fierceness.” The world has seen its horror in the arms of every grieving mother, in every broken home, in the thoughts and intentions of every evil heart. Now, the filth must be washed away by a flood of God’s wrath, but not until something else happens.
First, the ark must be filled. God provides Noah with a headcount of all who belong on the ark, but notice the diversity from which they come – birds, animals, creeping things, some clean, and some unclean. Some, like the turtle, must be raised up to enter the ark; others, like the eagle, must be come down and be humbled to enter. The wolf must dwell with the lamb, so must the calf with the lion (Isa. 11:6). Does this sound familiar? Our God has a number from every tribe, nation, and tongue. The church of God may be comprised of a wild variety of people from all ages and races, from every walk of life under the sun, but what keeps them together is being “called out” ones – one’s called out of the world and into Christ.
Second, The LORD shut them in. Do we not see the sovereignty of God on display? He held the door until the last of His passengers boarded the ark, then He securely fastened them inside the ark of their salvation. This same pattern continues today. The gospel must go forth, they must be brought in, then the end will come (Mt. 24:14; Rom. 11:25). Even now, Christ sends forth laborers into the harvest to call His people into His perfect salvation. As long as the door remains open, hope remains open (2 Peter 3:9). When will the door shut? When will Christ descend with the voice of the archangel to secure His people and begin treading the wine press of His wrath? When the last one comes home.
Some readers may be fretful over the salvation of a child or grandchild. As long as the door of salvation remains open, as long as judgment has not finally slammed the door upon this sinful generation, hope remains open. As we sing, “He stands at the portals, waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.” If you have so long waited to come to Christ, be warned. The gospel is spreading faster than ever, and He could shut that door at any moment. Will you be among that number?
