TEXT: COLOSSIANS 3:1-4
INTRODUCTION
The Bible presents us with three arks: Noah’s ark, Moses’s ark and the Ark of the Covenant. All three arks spoke of protection and preservation. They all pointed towards the ultimate ark, the ark of salvation, Jesus Christ. Our preservation is secured when we stay in the ark. In the case of Noah, God ensured that he stayed inside the ark by shutting him in by Himself (Gen 7:16). Today our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3). As we examine these arks today, we pray that none of us will go out of the ark in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Outline
A. NOAH’S ARK: Gen. 6:13-22; Ez. 14: 14, 20; Lk. 17: 26-27; Heb. 11:7; I Pe. 3:20
Noah was a preacher of righteousness. By faith, he warned the world for 120 years of what was to come. He saved his house by faith. He and his family were quarantined away from the decay in the world. His faith revealed the error of the world and thus condemned the world. This was the only place of safety. The ark had only one door. The ark was pitched inside and out. (Gen. 6:14).
B. MOSES’S ARK: Exo. 2:1-4; Acts 7:17-22; Heb. 11:23-26
Moses’s ark was a basket. However, just like Noah’s ark, it was pitched in and out. Beyond preserving the life of Moses, this ark preserved God’s people and gave them a leader that took them out of the house of bondage. Moses’s ark was the only place of safety at that crucial time.
C. ARK OF THE COVENANT: Exo. 25:16-22; Num. 17:10; I Sam. 4: 3-11; Heb. 9:4-5
The Ark of the Covenant was the symbol of God’s presence and His covenant with the Israelites. It was covered inside and out with gold. It contained the Testimony or tablets of the commandments. It also contained a golden jar with manna in addition to Aaron’s rod that budded. It was called the ark of the testimony (Num. 7:89); the ark of the LORD (Joshua 3:13) and the ark of thy strength (2 Chronicles 6:41)
The ark did not protect unbelievers or a perverted priesthood as represented by the sons of Eli. The ark was the place of mercy and atonement for the penitent.
D. ARK of SALVATION: Is. 53:4-7; Matt.24:37-39; Jn. 6:37; Col. 3:3; II Pet. 3:9
The old testament arks were pictures of the ultimate ARK. He keeps and preserves us from floodwaters and fires. There is no other name by which we may be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus is our ark of salvation.
CONCLUSION
God’s plan for man has always been for him to be saved. He gave us Jesus Christ as the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). There is no other way out of the perversities of this world. He is the door to safety (John 10:9). To enjoy that security and preservation, we must not only enter the ark, but we must also remain or abide in it.
MEMORY VERSE: Psalms 121:7 (KJV)
“The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.”
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