Preparing for the Big Day, Part 3

Day 3: Inside the Ark

(Ornament: A rainbow)

Today, we've been reminded that God keeps His promises!

Amen!

Do you know the story of Noah and the Ark? If not, you can read it here. After Adam and Eve's first sin, the world became more and more sinful until one day, every person's heart was full of evil. God grieved the fact that He created man. Can you imagine? Do you ever think of God as grieving, that he actually grieves as a result of our sin?

During that time, God saw favor in Noah and instructed Noah to build a very large boat for himself, his family, and the animals God would instruct Him to save. I can't even imagine what the folks around Noah must have thought of him as he was building this huge vessel. (Does Evan Almighty come to mind?) However, despite the ridicule and embarrassment he must have felt, Noah was obedient to God's directions.

God was with Noah and fulfilled His promise of saving his family. The flood waters rose to 20 feet above the highest mountains and everything that had breath in its nostrils was destroyed. However, Noah's family and the animals inside the ark were safe. God then promised that He would never again destroy the earth with water and gave the rainbow as a sign of this promise. Every time you see a rainbow in the sky, it is a reminder that God keeps his promises!

Drawing a spiritual parallel, the ark is a symbol of Christ. God gave us the gift of His Son to save us from the sin that destroys our very life. No matter how much ridicule or embarrassment we may feel, He keeps His promise and the gift is there for us to receive. Romans 3:23-24 says "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Thank you, Lord, for keeping Your promises! Thank you for the gift of Jesus, the most wonderful gift I could ever receive.