Noah’s ark is a picture of salvation in Jesus. It also pictures faith in Jesus. It took faith to build the boat and faith to get into the boat. It even took faith to stay in the boat until it was time to receive what God promised! Faith is the boat (the vehicle) that gets you to the promises of God. But you have to stay in it.
One time, Jesus told the disciples to get into the boat because they were going to the other side of the lake. Then unexpectedly, a severe storm threatened to capsize them. They must have wished they had never gotten into the boat. Similarly, when unexpected ‘storms’ occur in our lives, we question whether we really heard the Lord—our faith is challenged—and we wonder if this ‘boat’ (our faith) will save us.
Jesus rebuked the storm; then He rebuked them for their lack of faith. Like those disciples, we must get into faith if we are to reach the place of our calling. The challenge we all face is to stay in faith. It is when you are in the boat (faith) in the middle of a storm that your faith is either shaken or proven. (Sadly, too many people panic, and their faith is shipwrecked!)
Undoubtedly though, there will be times you wonder if you got on the wrong ‘cruise.’ But don’t, instead follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and patience (Heb. 6:12).
Greg,
ReplyDeleteWhat a challenge! My issue is that I "worry" and justify that my worry means that I am concerned about what is going on with the situation I may be worried about at the time. The last part was quite challenging where you write, "Undoubtedly though, there will be times you wonder if you got on the wrong ‘cruise.’ But don’t, instead follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and patience." How can I ever be so sure? Thank you for encouraging, but most importantly challenging me to see that with faith I cannot afford to "worry."