THE STORY of Noah’s ark has excited the interest of children for many centuries. How wonderful it was that a large vessel should carry Noah and his family and all those animals over the flood waters of judgment to safety! Think of God’s goodness in saving their lives, and yet those animals perhaps scarcely knew what God had done for them. And how many people do not realize what God has done for them either. They do not stop to consider what sinners they are in God’s sight, and that they deserve to be banished from His presence forever. Many never realize until it is too late how that they could have been saved, for the Lord Jesus came into this world to save sinners, and they did not confess Him as their Saviour.
The ark is a type of the Lord Jesus, for those animals were safe inside when the flood waters came. The Lord Jesus said, “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” John 10:99I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9). We need to come to the one and only door to heaven to be saved. There was only one door in the ark, and all the animals had to come in through that one door. They may have had many different experiences in getting to the ark, but there was only one door through which to enter, and there is only one door into heaven. That door is Christ. There is no other way.
One night I attended a business meeting and had to park my car at the back of the building. Rather than walk around to the front, I thought I would find a shortcut. I tried one door, then another, and another, but all were locked. Finally, I went around to the front and got in; but I had walked twice as far in the meantime before taking the right way.
How did all those animals find their way into the ark? Doubtless, the hand of God, their Creator, was over them and guided them. He sent them by a right way. Today you can come to God by the right way and enter into life and peace through that one door, the Lord Jesus Christ.
A little child of seven,
Or even three or four,
May enter into heaven
Through Christ the open door.
For when the heart believeth,
On Christ, the Son of God,
Tis then the soul receiveth
Salvation through His blood.
Did you ever think that each of the animals in the ark might have a story for us? Let us look at some of these animals in the weeks to come and see what each can tell us about ourselves and the finished work of Christ.
ML-01/26/1969