THE ARK OF SALVATION

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE,

THE ARK OF SALVATION

Then God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me,
for the earth is filled with unrighteousness through them; and behold,
I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ARK of square timber…And behold, I am
bringing a flood of water on the earth, to destroy from under
heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life. Whatever is on
earth shall die. But I will establish My COVENANT WITH
YOU; AND YOU SHALL GO INTO THE ARK…" (Genesis 6:14-18).

"…Only Noah and those with him in the ARK remained alive" (Genesis 7:23).

The ARK was a type of the Theotokos with Christ and the Church in her womb. The floodwaters were a type of baptism, in which we are saved. The Lord God made Noah righteous THROUGH FAITH, by which he pleased God (Hebrews 11:6-7). Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, he OBEYED EVERYTHING GOD COMMANDED HIM TO DO. So he and his family ENTERED THE ARK, WHICH TYPIFIED SALVATION.

The Lord God closed the door of the ARK. for He is the Judge and determines who is in and who is out. The people on the outside were going about their usual manner of life–buying, selling, eating, drinking, marrying, and giving marriage–but they WERE INDIFFERENT TO GOD AND HIS GRACE. The FLOOD CAUGHT THEM UNAWARES, but it was too late for them to respond. SO IT WILL BE IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT (Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27; 2 Peter 2:4-5).

"God remembered Noah" AND SAVED HIM FROM THE FLOODWATERS. Noah WAS SAVED BECAUSE GOD REMEMBERED HIM. This REMEMBRANCE IS SALVATION. Many Holy Scriptures speak of God REMEMBERING MAN IN SALVATION. The thief on the cross said to Jesus, "LORD REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM." And Jesus said to him, "ASSUREDLY I SAY TO YOU, TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE" (Luke 23:42-43).

As Noah preached righteousness, suffered unjustly, and rescued those who were with him, so also did Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Christ descended to those in darkness and death that Light might shine on them and He might deliver them from death. As Christ fearlessly faced His tormentors, death, and hell, so we through Him can confidently face mockers and tormentors–and, yes, bring His Light to them.

The Flood is an Old Testament MYSTERY OF the SALVATION of the human race. Noah was saved from a godless society–not so much from the water, AS THROUGH THE WATER FROM EVIL. For through the water of BAPTISM the Resurrected Christ, having taken His place IN HEAVEN ITSELF gives us a clean CONSCIENCE.

The Orthodox Christian understands and believes the Church to be a type of Ark. Those on board this new Ark will be saved. The Pilot of the Ark is none other than our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. The crew members are the heavenly powers, Archangels, and Angels. The passengers are the faithful and righteous people of God. Outside the Ark are those who are struggling to believe as well as those who reject and mock God. There is only one Ark of salvation, only one Church of Christ. No one is forced to get on board the Ark but those who are eligible to get on, are those who are Baptized. Unbelieving humanity faces the turbulence and murkiness of the waters of life that constantly threatens its future and existence. However, there is still hope for those who repent of their sins and seek God’s forgiveness. We pray that our Lord God will remember us.

Humility is the foundation of all virtue; it is learned through submission and obedience to our Savior Jesus Christ. The Holy Scriptures remind us, "God resists the proud. But gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5). "If then you were raised with Christ seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting on the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which are idolatry" (Colossians 3:1-5).

______________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +



With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George