Every great story has a great climax — even true stories.

We’ve reached our climax in the story of Noah’s Ark.

The time had come.

Drip, drip, drop, WHOOSH!

“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.”
~ Genesis 7:11-12 (NIV)

 

God had patiently waited 120 years between giving the warning that He was sending a flood and the time when the flood gates actually opened, but finally the time had come.

For 120 years the people heard Noah preach God’s message. At any point they could have chosen to believe God’s warning and turn to Him for mercy.

The world had time to listen, believe and choose, but they refused.

God even gave Noah a final, advance warning before sending the flood (Genesis 7:4)

The people had plenty of time, but when the time came, only eight people chose to walk into the ark — Noah, who alone was righteous before God, and his seven family members, who chose to believe God’s words.

They chose, by faith, to walk away from the beliefs of the world and believe God instead.

They chose to receive their salvation by entering the ark God had provided, walking through the one and only door.  

Once Noah and his family were on board (along with the animals), it was time to close the door. 

This was not an ordinary door. It was the kind an elephant could walk through.

But even with its massive size, if Noah and his sons could build an ark, they could certainly rig something to close the door.

The issue wasn’t who was able to close the door, but who was the right one to close the door.

It is, in fact a Red Thread Clue.

“The animals going in were male and female of every living thing,
as God had commanded Noah.
Then the LORD shut him in.”
~ Genesis 7:16 (NIV)

God was the one who closed the door, and He closed it at the right time, which leads us to our next set of Red Thread Clues:

 

God alone chose the time when the door of the ark would be shut, and He alone shut the door.

Likewise, God alone has chosen the time for us to be born and die. He alone controls it.

 

From the very beginning, God knew the time the door of the ark would be shut. He announced it to Noah saying He would send a flood in 120 years (Genesis 6:3). Noah couldn’t control when the flood would come or when the door would be shut.

Likewise, God tells us that He knows the number of our days before there ever is one (Psalm 139:16), and that our times are in His hands (not in our own, Satan’s, or a murderer’s) (Psalm 31:15).  Before we draw our first breath, God already knows when we’ll draw our last. It’s all under His control. [1]

The choice to believe and enter the ark had to be made before the door was shut and the flood came. Afterwards, it was too late.

Likewise, the choice to trust in Jesus for salvation must be made before we die and face judgment. After we die, it’s too late.

 

God shut Noah and his family in. He didn’t shut the others out. When God shut Noah and his family into the ark, the people had already chosen to be outside the ark.

Likewise, once we die, it’s too late for us to choose to trust in Christ for our salvation. God has appointed that each person is to die, and then comes judgement for our sins. (Hebrews 9:27)

We cannot wait until “the door is shut” to do something about the Gospel message we’ve heard.[2]

Everyone will believe in Christ once they’re dead because the truth will be staring them in the face.  

The world believed Noah’s words once they were treading water, but it was too late. The door was shut. 

God was incredibly patient, 120 years patient, but eventually time was up. 

Time will eventually be up for all of us. My prayer is that you will not wait to believe until after the door is shut on your life.

You will believe after you die, but it will be too late for you to be saved.

Would you like to believe? It’s a simple step of faith.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
~ Romans 10:9-10

(In case you’re wondering “justified” means “it’s just as if I’d never sinned.”)

If you chose to believe, I’d love to hear from you! Please leave a message in the comment section.

If you’ve missed any of the posts in my Noah’s Ark series, here’s my link: Red Thread in Noah’s Ark series. 

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[1]  Murder and suicide may seem to negate my statement, but they don’t. Man may go against God’s commands and choose to kill others and even themselves, but if it’s not the person’s time to die, they won’t. They’ll survive.

You’ve heard the miraculous stories.

I remember hearing of a football player who put a gun into his mouth and shot it, but survived.

I know of another man who was to be executed, but the gun jammed three times when his executioners tried to kill him. He was saved before the gunman could attempt to shoot him again.

This doesn’t in any way condone murder or attempted murder! It’s a grievous sin, and they will answer not only to the courts of the land, but also to God.

But God is merciful and He will forgive even a murderer who turns from their sin and trusts in Christ, who paid for that sin on the cross. 

This also sends a strong warning to anyone considering suicide. You will NOT die if it’s not your time to go. 

You may spend the rest of your life essentially brain dead, drooling in a cup, but you won’t die.

Is whatever you’re going through worse than spending the next twenty or more years without a coherent thought or control over your body? Carefully consider if that option is worth it. It’s not, by the way!

Don’t take matters into your own hands. Trust God with even your worst situation. He will take care of you. He is faithful! 

[2] What about those who’ve never heard the gospel message? Check out this post:  What if Someone Never Hears About Jesus?