Noah’s Ark—And Ours: Judgment, Mercy, and the Door That’s Still Open
1 Peter 3:20–21 — “They were brought safely through water… This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Genesis 6:8 — “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
Matthew 24:37–39 — “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man…”
Hebrews 11:7 — “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.”
2 Peter 2:5 — “God did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah…”
Luke 13:24 — “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many… will try to enter and will not be able.”
The Noah story isn’t just ancient history—it’s a living parable of salvation. Judgment is real. Grace is narrow. But mercy is offered. Noah’s ark foreshadows Christ: the only refuge from divine wrath, entered by faith, sealed by God’s timing. Christians don’t build arks—we proclaim the One who is the Ark. In a world distracted by comfort and denial, we’re called to live like Noah: obedient in obscurity, faithful amid mockery, urgent in warning. Not to condemn, but to say: “The door is still open. Come in.”
lyrics by Zeb of Virginia Beach Church
from his song “You Held The Door Open For Me”
You held the door open for me Lord Lord
You held the door open for me
You never got tired of waitin’
You held the door open for me
While I was wanderin and seekin
Trying out everything for size
that might give me some freedom
and might open up my eyes
While I tried every method
to set my poor soul free
Dear Jesus, Dear Lord
You held the door open held the door open for me
While I was in deep depression
When my heart was sunken low
While I got so very distracted
goin every which way to go
Talkin to the Bhudda
and even doin Scientology
Dear Jesus, Dear Lord
You still held the door open held the door open for me.
Good luck charms and amulets
crystals, drum circles and spells
Yoga and chakra meditations
formed my own path leading to Hell
Lucid dreaming, psychic reading,
Tarot, magic and numerology
I must have been something to see Dear Lord
You still held the door open for me.
Tell me Lord how can I thank you?
Tell me Lord what can I do?
Maybe I can help while you hold the door open
and lead another wandering sinner back home to you.
repeat chorus
Lord, keep me awake in a sleeping world. Give me Noah’s courage—to believe unseen judgment, trust Your mercy, and point others to the Ark while there’s time. Amen.
Painterly vertical image: pre-dawn sky over a vast plain, a massive wooden ark silhouetted against soft amber light, one small window glowing warmly from within, distant hills shrouded in mist, atmosphere urgent yet serene—mercy prepared before judgment falls; no darkness on the ark, no text, no shadows.
