We spoke last week of the
similarity between the tar used by Noah to cover the ark and the
word 'atonement' used to symbolize the effects which flowed from
the death of Christ. Both of them mean 'to cover'. Noah covered the
ark and Jesus' blood covered us.
Now let me continue to draw the
similarities between them by asking this one question: Why was Noah
safe in the ark? What made that he didn't have to fear the forces
of the flood crashing into his boat? I mean think about it, It was
just a boat made out of wood after all, it could easily have let in
water and sunk to the bottom of it all. He could have crashed into
a mountain simply with the fierce force of the water. So many
things could have gone wrong, but it didn't, why?
I am going to discuss the first
reason today and the others in the coming weeks. The first reason
why he was safe was because God shut him in.
Genesis 7:15,16 "Two by two they
came into the boat, male and female, just as God had commanded.
Then the Lord shut them in."
I don't know about you, but I have
read and heard this story many times before, but I always thought
that they simply shut the door from inside, like a submarine today
and that was that. In our modern society it is easy to shut a door
from the inside, and if it is designed to go underwater there are
extra measures taken to ensure that no water will filter in. But it
was only now when I carefully read this verse that I realized that
that would not have been possible in those days.
They couldn't shut themselves in.
The door was made out of wood, and water could easily have come in
through the small openings between the door and the ark itself.
They covered the whole boat with tar, but they couldn't cover those
openings from the outside, because they were all inside. God
therefore covered the entrance with tar once they were all inside.
God ensured that they were safe and that not a drop of water will
filter in.
The same is true with Christ. Once
you accepted Him in your life you are covered by Him. You are shut
in and Jesus closes the door. You are inside His safe haven and you
cannot get out. You are protected by Him and He would keep you in
His loving embrace. No matter what sin you commit, He will not let
you go. You are His. He has died for very sin that you have
committed and will ever commit and has reconciled you with God. You
are part of His family now.
Thank you so much Father that we
can know that we are shut in. We are being kept safe from harm, no
evil can prosper against us, for at the end of the day we will be
with You forever and ever. Amen