The Ultimate Ark
Genesis 8:17 - Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh — birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth…
God preserved both Noah and every kind of creature he made in this massive trial.
He told Noah to bring all the animals into the ark. And so God now invites all people to pack his place:
Luke 14:23 - And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
And he calls all kinds as Noah called all animals:
Revelation 5:9 - you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation
What Noah did happened through work by faith alone:
Hebrews 11:7 - By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
And so Jesus sends us out to work through faith alone:
Matthew 28:19 - Go therefore and make disciples of all nations
Jesus is the ark who is to come. All who have faith in him will be saved:
Matthew 24:37 - For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
The flood destroyed with water. Jesus’ return will be with fire:
2 Peter 3:6–7 - the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
And what is all this for? The original purpose of God in the garden. That we would dwell with him forever!
Revelation 21:3 - And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.