As the return of Christ approaches, it is more important than ever to get on the Ark of safety by placing ourselves under the Blood of Christ—who is the center of our faith; our trust; and our hope of salvation.  Noah’s Ark represents belief, obedience, and protection, but the world stands for unbelief, disobedience, and destruction.  Everyone has a choice to accept one position or the other.

The false doctrine of once saved always saved, gives a false security that it is impossible to leave the Ark of safety in Christ—but it is possible, and it does happen.  The false teaching of eternal security is widely taught but remains a lie.  Ministers, the apostle said Titus 1:9 “must hold firmly to the trustworthy message [faithful word] as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”  Deceit is everywhere today.

Jesus warned John 15:6 “If anyone does not remain [abide; continue] in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”  Millions professing faith in Christ are not abiding in Him, because they are not trusting in the Blood He shed for them.  Instead, they seek medication for relief from pain; lay up treasure on earth for security; avenge wrongs by suing their persecutors; and put insurance coverage on everything to protect themselves from financial ruin.

Millions speak of, but do not live by, faith in God; even though James 2:26 “faith is lifeless if it is unaccompanied by obedience.”  There was one door into the Ark of safety which represents the one way to God’s kingdom—a continuing faith in the Blood of Christ.  John 10:9 ”I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”  Like the only door onto the Ark, Jesus is the only way into Heaven, because “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" Acts 4:12.

Scripture warns Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets;” Galatians 6:7 ”Be not deceived; God is not mocked;” 1 John 5:21 “Keep yourselves from idols;” Matthew 12:50 ”Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."  “We have come to share in [partakers of] Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first” Hebrews 3:14.

The apostle mentioned seventeen sins that would defile our conscience—Galatians 5:21 ”Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings [celebrations; wild parties], and such…“as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Not many are listening and less are repenting of unbelief.

Those who accept false teaching think they are invincible and unsinkable, because they have believed the lie of eternal security—that no matter what sin, depravity, or unbelief they have fallen into, they are still saved.  We are saved and safe only if we have confessed our sins, have truly repented, and have consciously placed a trusting faith in the Blood Jesus shed for us.

There will be visible signs in the last days—“children will rebel against their parents” Matthew 10:21 and that 22 “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”  There is no doubt that Matthew 24:21 ”a time of great suffering, such as never has been from the beginning of the world” is fast approaching.  Noah saw the same unbelief and rebellion in his day.

The only way to avoid divine judgment is to live under the protective covering of the Blood every day for every issue.  With Satan prowling for victims, the world is a minefield of pitfalls—we must be alert to the danger, truly accept the Truth God has revealed to us, and to keep our lamp of faith burning!  2 Peter 3:17 ”Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.”

To be saved from destruction is to abandon the arrogance and false security of the world—who have a million substitutes for trust on God—and to deliberately get on the Ark of repentance, obedience, and faithful trust on the Blood of Jesus.  2 Peter 2:5 “If [God] did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people,” then He will not spare the ungodly today who think they can deliberately disobey Him and still be safe from destruction.

The global Flood is a reminder of the coming destruction, but Noah’s Ark is a symbol of safety.  1 Peter 3:20 “God’s longsuffering was patiently waiting in the days of Noah during the building of the Ark, in which a few persons—eight in number—were brought safely through the water.”  The worldwide Flood symbolized destruction for those refusing to repent and trust God, but it symbolizes salvation for those who will repent and will trust in the Blood of Christ.

The Ark of safety represents Christ’s work of Atonement—washing away sins.  When Jesus came up from the waters of baptism, the Holy Spirit alighted on Him like a dove; and when the Ark came to rest on dry ground, the dove alighted on the boat.  Trees were cut down to build the Ark for safety from the flood, and a tree was cut down to build a cross to give safety from the coming wrath.

God waited patiently in the days of Noah—120 years—and He is still waiting before giving the command for His Son to return.  God said, Come into the Ark, Jesus says Matthew 19:21, “come and follow me.”  When all were included in the Ark, the Lord closed the door Genesis 7:16, and ”In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” Ephesians 1:13.

Noah preached righteousness—by trust on God—but the world refused to listen, ignored his warnings, and perished.  Many think they can be in sin and have plenty of time to repent, but the Spirit says Hebrews 3:7-8 "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness.”  12 “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.”

Millions today remain in sin because of a false sense of security through accepting a false teaching on security.  Many mock a Day of Judgment, but Jesus warned Luke 12:19-21 “I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."’  "But God said to him, ‘Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."  Multitudes have laid up money in the bank, but are not rich in faith on God.

          Millions have put a loved one, a friend, a job, or something else ahead of God, but Jesus said Matthew 10:37 "He who loves [anyone] more than Me is not worthy of Me.”  Anyone or anything ahead of God is idolatry and a serious sin Revelation 21:8.  Greed alone will prevent billions from entering God’s kingdom.  Mark 8:36 “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”

On judgment day, there will be no lawyers and no appeals.  It will not matter if one’s name is written on the world’s list of important people—“What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight” Luke 16:15—but only if one’s name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life Revelation 3:5.  The flames of Hell never go out Mark 9:48, so the Ark of safety must be understood.

In speaking about repenting, someone asked Jesus Luke 13:23-25 “Lord, are there few that be saved?  And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”  Those who only spoke of, but did not act in, faith were told, “I do not know you, or where you are from.”

God is not pleased that His creation rejects His Truth; He 1 Timothy 2:4 ”Will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all.”

To be on the Ark is to heed the call to believe in the One God sent, and to hold steadfast in faith on the sacrifice He made.  It is time to confess; repent; forsake our sins; and to get on the Ark of safety by trusting on the Blood of Jesus.  By God’s mercy and grace, may our lamps of faith keep burning until Christ returns.

          We must correctly interpret the Word of God and rightly apply its principles of trust.  2 Timothy 2:15 ”Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  We cannot take from, nor add anything to, what the Bible teaches, nor change anything Jesus said.  Matthew 5:44-45 "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

          Maintaining our trust on God for divine healing is a very important faith issue.  The woman had “suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse” Mark 5:26.  When she touched His garment in faith 34 Jesus said, "Daughter, your faith has made you well.  Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

          When two blind men said they believed Jesus was able to heal their vision, He said Matthew 9:29-30, "According to your faith let it be to you.  And their eyes were opened.”  We cannot depend on medicine for help and depend on God for healing at the same time.  We either put trust on God, or put our faith in some drug.  The principle of trust on the power of God must be maintained.

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