Thank God The Ark Had A Door
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Divine judgment is the subject of Genesis chapters 6, 7, and 8. The judgment recorded is usually referred to as “Noah’s Flood.”
Chapter 6 gives the reasons for the flood and the rescue from the flood. Chapter 7 gives the details concerning the flood, and chapter 8 records the end of the flood.
Noah’s Flood is a strong reminder to us that the corruption of man will eventually bring the wrath of God upon man.
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
There’s an old saying - I’m not sure who first said it, but it’s this: “Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness grinds He all.”
Let me just put it this way, judgment is coming!
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Notice with me that the corruption of the world through sin didn’t bring a commendation from God, but it brought condemnation. Mankind may praise sin and sinners, but God certainly doesn’t!
I want you to notice some things with me today concerning the depravity of man and the grace of God as we look at the thought “Thank God The Ark Had A Door”!
The Worldwide Destruction
The Worldwide Destruction
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
God informed Noah of His plan to destroy humanity as judgment for their sin. Here, as He often does, God informed those whom He “knows” - by He knows, I mean, those who have been justified by faith and are His children of the coming judgment...
This backs up what we already knew of in
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
God told Noah what He had observed, and what He was determined to do, and gave him directions to make an ark for the security of himself and family, when He should destroy the world...
Look back at verse 11-12
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Everywhere He looked, He saw open, flagrant, lawlessness…Violence was the order of the day…Sin was flaunted and applauded! - Sounds a lot like 2021 doesn’t it?
It’s no wonder that God says, “…The end of all flesh is come before me...” - Notice the words “The end.” The Hebrew word there comes from a word meaning “to cut off.”
God had reached the limit of His patience, but listen! He is about to reveal to Noah a way of escape He is going to provide for those who would take it!
Even in His wrath, God remembers His mercy!
The Wonderful Design
The Wonderful Design
Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
A plan of salvation was to be extended to whosoever! That plan, as in all ages, foreshadowed the finished work of Christ.
Noah was to build an ark and offer a way of escape from coming wrath to that doomed generation. He was given full instructions on how to do this…I want you to notice some things about this design:
The ark was to be the shape of a coffin (length 300 cubits, breadth 50 cubits, and height 30 cubits) and was to be made from gopher wood, the same wood from which ancient peoples made their coffins.
Gopher wood was known as incorruptible wood.
When completed, the ark was to be covered inside and out with pitch (the word used for pitch is the same word used in the Old Testament for atonement).
The pitch covered the wood - Christ’s blood covers our sins...
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
The pitch protected the wood - Water was the judgment here, right? Pitch was waterproof! and today, the shed blood of Jesus protects those who are saved from the wrath of God!
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
There were rooms in the ark! - the Hebrew word here literally means “nests” - It indicates a place of rest...
Hey, Jesus provides a place of rest for the weary sinner!
He provides a place of rest HERE:
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
There’s room for all who will come! I want you to notice something - The size of the ark come to around 510’ L x 85’ W x 51’ H - It’s estimated that the 35,000 known species could fit into 150 box cars…The ark was the size of 530 box cars! - You know what that means? It means there was room in the ship then, and there’s room today!
Jesus not only provides a place of rest HERE, but...
He provides a place of rest in HEAVEN:
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
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.
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.
There’s room in glory for all who will come unto Him!
It was to have a window and a door - Notice this, now - Noah was to have control of the window, God was to take charge of the door.
There are three arks mentioned in the Word of God. Each of them; a place of refuge, shelter and safety, a type of the Lord Jesus Christ and God’s salvation in and by him.
The ark which Noah built secured those who were in it from the wrath of an angry God. That is Christ our substitute.
The ark of bulrushes protected little Moses, from the wicked ruler Pharaoh. That ark is Christ, into whom sinners are placed by a loving Father.
The ark of the covenant sheltered the two tables of God’s holy law, and being covered with blood, was the place of atonement, mercy and acceptance with God for sinners. That ark is Christ our mercy-seat.
From the beginning there has been but one place of refuge for sinners, only one way of salvation. That refuge, that salvation is and has always been Christ!
If we would be saved, we must be robed in Christ’s righteousness and washed in his blood. We must be in Christ by faith. Only Christ can bear our souls above the flood of God’s wrath. Only Christ can save us.
The Welcomed Door
The Welcomed Door
A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
There was only one door into that Ark and there’s only one door into God’s salvation!
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Jesus is the only way!
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The plan of salvation in Noah’s day rested on the faithful Word of God...
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Aren’t you thankful for the door today?
The plan of salvation for that ancient world was the same as for today. There must be a response to God’s word and a deliberate turning to Christ. He is our ark, for salvation is available only in Him.
The ark provided shelter from the storm, but it also provided sustenance for all who were inside.
Every need was anticipated and met. Just so today; Christ not only saves—He satisfies and meets every spiritual need of those who trust in Him.
All you have to do is enter in through the door!
Jesus said,
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Thank God The Ark Has A Door!