Gen 7:10-16 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.
With the ark completed, a task that took over one hundred years, Noah and his family entered into the ark “and the Lord shut him in.” This is most significant. There was one door in the side of the ark. (Genesis 6:16) When the ark was built of gopher wood, it was covered with “pitch” both inside and out. This would protect the ark from the waters of the flood, making it watertight so that it could ride out the deluge. When the four families entered the ark, and God “shut them in,” He was guaranteeing that the door would also be sealed, ensuring their safety. He had commanded Noah concerning the construction of the ark, but Noah’s safety throughout the flood was not dependent upon him, but upon God that had directed him. Some have questioned whether or not the ark could have adequately sustained life through the long time that the floodwaters were upon the earth. Beloved, the ark did not guarantee their safety. God did!
The ark provides for us a picture of salvation that has been provided through our Lord Jesus Christ. Like Noah, we have been given directives concerning our responsibility in the salvation process. Now, salvation is by grace through faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, but there is a consideration given in Scripture to human responsibility. We are told in Scripture, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name....” (John 1:11-12) Human responsibility is, therefore, receiving and believing on the Lord Jesus. Paul wrote, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13) There is human responsibility. The Bible is very clear that “salvation is of the Lord.” (Jonah 2:9) But, it is also obvious that there is a human responsibility. They who do not “call upon the name of the Lord” are not saved. It is as simple as that. However, the Bible is also clear that it is the Holy Spirit that draws, convicts and convinces sinners to come to Christ. (John 16:8) It is the Holy Spirit that regenerates the sinner. (Titus 3:5) And, it is the indwelling Holy Spirit that guarantees the eternal redemption and security of the believer. (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30) Therefore, just as the Lord shut Noah and his family inside the ark, guaranteeing their safety from the waters of judgment, the believer is secured in his relationship with the Lord Jesus. Read carefully the following passage; John 10:27-30. Beloved, it was not the ark that kept Noah and his family, and all of those animals alive and secure. Some have questioned whether or not the ark would have floated. It would have stayed afloat had it been constructed of stone and mortar, for God saved Noah and his family from the destruction of the flood. It was Almighty God! “...and the Lord shut him in.”
Pastor Steve Smith