I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”
Genesis 6:17:21
I’m sure you are familiar with the story in the Bible where Noah was instructed to build an ark and bring his family and animals aboard while the earth was flooded. We teach our children this story at a very young age, but we gloss over a lot of details for their benefit. God’s just judgement was rained down on all humanity (and animal/plant life) due to the ever-increasing violence and sin that was present, and Noah alone found favor with God. In God’s mercy and grace He decided to preserve Noah and his family by saving them in an ark. And they received salvation! But not often do we consider Noah’s perspective while he was being saved. Consider these things:
1. God gave Noah enough warning to know the earth and everything in it was going be destroyed—his home, his friends, his comfortable life—basically everything Noah had ever known was completely upended, and put him in a “last family on earth” kind of situation. That’s intense. Plenty of opportunity for isolation and loneliness.
2. Noah was in a floating zoo for approximately a year: eight humans, as well as at least two of each kind of animal. We think a few months of pandemic lockdown is unpleasant, what must it have been like to live in these conditions? Just try to use your five senses in a situation like this…which sense is most offended?
3. God had remembered Noah and had plans to preserve and keep him safe until the waters receded, but there is no indication that Noah was privy to any of the details. Noah only knew that in the end he would be saved, and must have clung to that promise while the ark was sloshing around day after day after day. When will our salvation come? We don’t know, all we can do is be obedient and wait on the Lord.
I imagine the lives of believers on earth can feel this way in the midst of a life full of turmoil, troubles, sorrows, and challenges. We know that we are hidden in Christ Jesus— the ark of salvation—and since we’re on the boat, we are being saved and will be saved at the end of our lives. When all is said and done, we’ll receive the fullness of salvation…but right now while we’re alive, we’re still on the boat floating atop the seas of life. We’re still dealing with uncertainty, imperfect living conditions, and relational tensions that exist in a fallen and broken world. We can use our resources (like Noah did when he investigated the reemergence of dry land by sending out what was in his hand, a few birds!) and learn the art of patience and waiting on the Lord. But it helps to know that while salvation is assured for all those who are in Christ Jesus and we can have the joy of the Lord in all situations, it doesn’t mean living a saved life is going to feel safe, comfortable and secure. Lord, teach us to fully trust You when our salvation isn’t a joyride.