Pictures of Christ in the Old Testament: The Ark of Noah Pt. 7 Christ Will Bring Us Safely Home!

The reality of the flood. 

Genesis 7:15-20  And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16)  And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. 17)  And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. 18)  And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 19)  And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. 20)  Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. 

Two animals of all types, one male and one female, entered the ark. God gave every animal and creature the instinct to enter the ark two by two as if being summoned, in order to be saved from the universal flood. After all the humans and animals were in the ark, Jehovah shut the door and sealed them in. 

The flood began and the Spirit of God guided Moses to record the details for us. In particular, we are told that the waters crested at 22 feet higher than the highest mountain. 

Proof of this global flood is the fact that marine fossils are found on some of the highest mountain ranges in the world. 

God allowed the flood waters to remain at their peak for 150 days, and then it took another 150 days for the waters to recede.

The ark carried Noah through the flood.

Genesis 8:13-17  And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. 14)  And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. 15)  And God spake unto Noah, saying, 16)  Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. 17)  Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.

The waters receded and the earth began to dry after the flood. After a year elapsed, God told Noah to leave the ark, and to loose all the animals, so that the world might be repopulated. 

This last main point emphasizing how the ark is a picture of the work and Person of Jesus Christ is simple, yet profound.

Not one person who entered the ark lost their life. The ark carried them safely through the flood of God's judgment and delivered them safely to a world dramatically different than the world before the flood. 

Almost one year after the flood began, Noah removed the cover of the ark and peered out and saw that the ground was dry. The text seems to indicate that the drying process was completed. 

The terrain that Noah and his family saw when they came out of the ark was entirely unrecognizable. There were no familiar landmarks because the flood changed the geography, climate and topography of the entire world. 

The ark had done its job. The exterior of it bore the brunt of God's wrath and all those inside the ark were kept safe and had all their needs provided for. 

The words "in Christ" are words that generally describe the Christian's position and relationship with God. The words "in Christ" clearly connect to Noah and his family being "in the ark."

Believers in Christ are secure and safe.

John 10:27-29  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 

Those who are born into the family of God are those who hear and heed the gospel of Jesus Christ. Evidence of being born again is that they followed Jesus and left the world behind them. 

Like the ark protected Noah and his family, so Jesus eternally protects all who turn to Him with repentant faith. No man can pluck us out of the hands of Christ and His Father. 

Believers in Christ have no condemnation   

Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

When Noah and his family emerged from the ark after the flood was over, they too, had no condemnation and the world was purged from sinners. Noah was found faithful by God and was rewarded for taking God at His word. 

Believers in Christ are sanctified by God

1 Corinthians 1:2  Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

The word "sanctified" means set apart for God as His special possession and for His special purposes. There is a practical, day to day sanctification that we must seek after, for as long as we live on earth, we will deal with the contamination of sin. 

However, there is also that positional, eternal sanctification where we receive a new, glorified body, one without a sin nature. Christ sanctifies all those who are "in Him." 

It means He imparts purity, righteousness and holiness to us from Himself, so that we are accepted by our Father. 

Believers in Christ are a new creation with new life.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

A born again Christian will never want to return to the state of being an unregenerate soul. In Christ, we have a new creation going on in us. Our old way of life passes away and we begin walking in newness of life with our Lord. 

Believers in Christ have all spiritual blessings

Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Each believer in Christ has been given all spiritual blessings that are needed for this life and for our eternal life in heaven. Every single spiritual blessing that we need has been provided by being in Christ. 

Believers in Christ have work to do

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Not only are we saved by grace through repentant faith in Christ, each believer in Christ, has some type of good works to do. Why? Because God ordained them for us to walk in them or complete them. 

It is not enough to be born again. God wants to fill us with more joy by giving us good things to do that He has prepared for us to work on. 

Believers in Christ are hid in Him

Colossians 3:1-4  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2)  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3)  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4)  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 

Because God has provided all that we need "in Christ" just as He provided for Noah's family in the ark, so He provides all that we need when we are "in Christ." 

We are risen from death to new life in Christ. We are to seek those glorious things of God which are above, where Christ is seated. 

Our life is hid with Christ in God. Our sins are gone, purged and forever forgotten by the Father.  Thus our old man way of life and every sin we ever committed or will commit, is hid with Christ in God. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

John 14:1-3  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2)  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

Like Noah in the ark, a believer "in Christ" will be taken home to heaven, safely, securely sheltered by His loving arms. 

Like Noah in the ark, we who are "in Christ" will find a new world, a new beginning, a place without any sin, death or tears. We will be able to fully worship God in Spirit and in truth. 

Jesus told us these things were to come so that our hearts would not be troubled by all of the turmoil, evil and hatred in the world today. 

Jesus made it clear that He is preparing our home in heaven and that He will come again and receive us to Himself, so that He might take us to our eternal abode. 

The promise of His coming is sure (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). 

Are you "in Christ, waiting and watching for His return, as you work for Him? Believers, this is what God has called us to. May He find us faithfully discharging our duties to Him. 

Bob