GET ON BOARD

“God’s light came into the world but the people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.” John 3:19

The door of the ark closed with a bang. The echoes vibrated in the darkness. Animal noises of all kinds filled the large ship.

On the third deck, just below the small opening that ran along the eves, Noah and his family waited and listened to the gentle pitter, patter on the roof above them. What was this water dripping from the sky? It had started just as they were walking up the ramp to the door.

Noah glanced around at the family’s meager belongings. They had lanterns, pallets to sleep on, a fire in a large iron stove to cook on, wood to burn, pots and pans and all the things eight people needed to live in this small space for an extended period of time. How long would they be there? Noah had no idea, but surely it wouldn’t be too long. How would they and all these animals survive an extended time in such a confining area?

The rest of the top deck was for food storage for them and the animals. Noah only hoped they had enough. God had instructed him to store plenty of food. For years the whole family had grown, harvested and loaded grain, dried grass and other food supplies onto the big boat. For water, there was the big cistern in the bowels of the ship. Noah prayed there would be enough of this stuff falling from the sky to keep it full.

A daunting job to build a ship the size of an ocean liner by hand. Most men would have given up, but not Noah. He tenaciously kept on working year after year, putting up one gopher wood board at a time. Using knowledge he had acquired in 500+ years of life and talking to friends who were ship builders, he followed the Lord’s instructions.

He and his sons had worked every day for many years on the huge ship perched way up in the hills above the coast and near the trees. Working while their friends and neighbors jeered and taunted. Working as their family walked away laughing and shaking their heads. The huge boat took shape, long, rectangular, three decks tall, it was built only for drifting and staying afloat.

Then the day came when the animals began wondering in, moseying along, scampering, hopping and slithering. They just appeared, like someone was leading them, stopping now and then to graze then walking calmly up the plank and into the dark belly of the giant ark.

Noah shook his head remembering the steady stream of creatures, two by two, male and female of each kind. Even the dinosaurs came and his eyes had widened at the large long necked pair who ambled up the ramp.   Would they fit in the large compartment God had instructed him to make, the one that had no ceiling? He laughed to himself, he should never doubt God. Of course the pair had fit since they were young, as many of the animals were, and small for their kind. But would there be enough food for those large stomachs? The pair of large dragons, as they were possibly called back then, had promptly laid down with their long necks curled around their bodies and fell asleep. Would they stay asleep the whole trip? That would certainly solve the problem of feeding them.

People came from miles around and stood watching with wonder as the many animals filed out of the forests, hills, and shores and into the mammoth ship. Even birds flew in and perched on the rafters and walls. There were more kinds of animals than Noah knew existed, yet they all fit in the large boat, each pair going to a compartment with only gentle direction from one of the Noah’s sons. Some of the larger animals laying down and falling asleep right away.

Then the flow stopped. God told Noah, “Come into the ark, you and your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.” (Gen. 7:1) So Noah, his wife, Shem, Ham, Japheth and their wives walked slowly up the ramp to the yawning opening of the ark. They looked at the people gathered below and tears flowed down their faces.

Can you imagine walking up that plank gazing into the faces of your friends and family knowing they would all perish? Knowing you would never see them again?

“Come with us!” They pleaded. “Get on board and be saved!”

As his family filed through the cavern-like opening, to be swallowed by the huge hunkering ship, Noah stopped and turned around. Raising his arms to the crowd below, he called one last time, “Just believe and come with us! Trust God and be saved! Get on board!”

But to no avail. Loved ones, family members, life-long friends only laughed and shook their heads. Oh the foolishness and folly of Noah’s family to spend years building a huge boat miles from any water, believing a flood was coming to wipe out all mankind. Ha! A flood! Where would all the water come from? What was going to cause this flood? And what was this water dripping from the sky?

Why should we give up our lives as we know it and board a dirty, smelly, dark ship marooned miles from the sea?

Don’t miss the boat!

Jesus is the Light of the world. He came into the world and the world knew Him not. He came into the world not to judge the world but to save the world.  Its when He comes to earth the second time that He will judge mankind.

Jesus is the boat! He is our salvation. Believe in Jesus, accept Him as your savior, ask Him to forgive your sins, confess Him as Lord, make Him boss of your life.

Jesus is calling you.  “Come!  Believe, be saved.”

Get on Board! Before the flood comes!

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. John 3:18