Focus: The Ark of Safety

Text: Gen.8:9

"The dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark."

There's no rest anywhere in this world. This world is full of storms and floods. No safe place here on earth. Tell me, where exactly can one find rest in this world - a world without God and without hope?

Our world is filled with bad and sad news. People are suffering all kinds of diseases and unexplainable disasters. Incurable illnesses abound in our world and death has no remedy. Medicines are not cheap. Medical charges are incredible. Poverty is on the rise in our world. It's a world of ills, pills and bills. The human struggle is real.

Jeremiah tells us about the suffering of Judah in his day, and he says, "Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth NO REST: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits" (Lam.1:3). He goes on to say, "Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest" (Lam.5:5). So much work, yet little or no rest. Trouble everywhere. It's a world where both the poor and the rich, the schooled and the unlettered, the noble and the ignoble are all suffering in one way or another. A world of meager means and mega needs. A world where slavery has been modernized and expressed in different forms. A world where racism and social exclusions still exist and heavily felt. A world where people still live in bondage in the land of the free. Someone has said that "man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains," and these chains are real and visible for all to see.

Do you know that even demonic spirits are restless? Jesus Christ says, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none" (Mt.12:43). No rest for them anywhere except in human bodies, and sadly, a lot of people have given over their bodies to be inhabited by demons. They let demons reside in their bodies and preside over their lives.

Noah's dove could not find rest for her feet on the earth because of the flood. The only safe place was in the Ark. The dove had to find her way back to the Ark - the only place of rest.

In this world of floods and storms, Jesus Christ is man's only Ark of safety and rest. The psalmist declares, "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him…" (Ps.37:7). He says to himself, "Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee" (Ps.116:7). As the dove made a return to the Ark of Noah, so the psalmist was to make a return to his place of rest in his God. Real rest is found only in Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Mt.11:28,29). 

Christ gives rest, and in Him alone real rest is found. We all need rest - soul-rest.

Isaiah says, "And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve" (Isa.14:3). There's soul-rest and there's eternal rest. That day is coming when God will give you rest - rest from your sorrow, rest from fear, and rest from bondage. 

A man will have no rest until shackles are shattered and deliverance is wrought in his life. Joyfully, Christ is both our Savior and our Giver of rest.

When that day comes, "the whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing" (Isa.14:7). The Lord Jesus Christ tells John to write, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may REST from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Rev.14:13).

When the heart is saved and put at rest, then it will become God's own resting place, as the psalm exclaims, "Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength" (Ps.132:8). Redeemed and sanctified hearts become God's sanctuary. 

O how sweet it is to know that Christ is our Ark of safety in an endangered world - a world filled with storms, floods, and all sorts of trouble! Do yourself a favor, and find your way back to the Ark of safety - Christ Jesus, and if you are already there, then serve the Lord delightfully, gratefully, and passionately. Christ is your Ark of safety and rest. You can't have it better anywhere else than in Christ.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter