The Door
We recently traveled with my parents to see the Ark Encounter in Kentucky. A bucket list item for my dad and certainly something we’d heard enough about to make us want to go and check it out for ourselves. We were not disappointed.
The ark was built as closely as possible to the size and specs found in the Bible. The full extent of its size was mostly hidden from view until you entered a rainbow archway and when one first lays eyes on it, it renders one speechless for a second and then a simple ‘Wow!’ as one takes it all in.
What impressed me most was the size and scale. What impressed my carpenter husband was the detail in the construction. Even if it was a ‘best guess’ scenario, it still was pretty impressive to think of all the detail that went into constructing such a thing. Of course, the sheer amount of storage for supplies and animals and humans was fascinating along with the logistics of feeding and caring for an ark full of creatures and their caretakers. But the one thing that has stuck with me was the presentation of the door to the ark. The creators of the modern-day ark made a strong case that the door to the ark is a type or foreshadowing of Jesus.
Below are some of the references used:
Genesis 6:14-18
14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.
Genesis 7:13-16
13 On the very same day Noah and his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them entered the ark, 14 they and every beast, according to its kind, and all the livestock according to their kinds, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, according to its kind, and every bird, according to its kind, every winged creature. 15 They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. 16 And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the Lord shut him in.
John 10: 9
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved…
The first verses certainly seem to point to end of the world as we know it. They also point to God’s covenant with those who believe in Him…a covenant to make a way to save His people
The second set of verses shows the creation that God is going to save entering the ark – through a door. Those who were to be saved had to enter that door. Those who didn’t perished. Once they were in the ark, God shut the door. No second chances for those on the outside.
In John, Jesus refers to Himself as ‘the Door’. He is very clear that those wanting to be saved need to enter that salvation through ‘the Door’. Those who choose not to use faith in Jesus as their ‘door’, will not be saved. No second chances. As believers, we have entered the door to salvation and will enjoy a welcome into our Father’s home someday. Also, as believers, we should feel the urgency to make sure those God places in our path know about ‘the Door’, Jesus. Many will not enter that ‘Door’, but let’s keep trying (with the Spirit’s help) to make God’s house as jam-packed with God’s people as it can possibly be! (kind of like the ark, but it will smell a whole lot better!)
Dawn Lubker, Ministry Assistant
