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Listen while you read: "We've A Story To Tell To The Nations"1 (Lyrics) |
My husband and I recently visited Williamstown, Kentucky, USA, to see the Ark Encounter. Upon arriving, far in the distance on a hill, we could see a full-size replica of the ark that God told Noah to build, and we were taken there by bus. It is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high! Inside the ark, we did a self-guided tour, but there were lots of staff around to guide us and answer questions. The experience doesn't end inside, as outside there are gardens, a small zoo, and restaurants, as well as a virtual simulator. It was amazing and well worth the long drive to see it!
As I relaxed in one of the areas to sit and take in the experience, what stuck with me was the single door that Noah, his family, and the animals would have entered.
Genesis 6:16 – You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. (NKJV)
God told Noah to build an ark with one door. Just as Noah's family went through one door to be saved from the flood, so to be saved from our sin, we must also go through one door:
John 10:7,9b – Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. (NKJV)
In biblical times the shepherd would rest in the entryway to the sheepfold. The shepherd was the door to keep his sheep safe.
The Bible also talks about other significant doors: the Passover door with its protective blood, the doors to the Most Holy Place in the temple, the narrow door that leads to life, and the door to Jesus' empty tomb. Reading about these different doors opened an unexpected perspective for me. Each of these doors, though different, has the same message. They all point to one person — Jesus. What a wonderful analogy it is! If we are in Jesus, He is always at the door waiting for us as we come in to Him and go out into the world for Him.
There are times in our walk as Christians when we leave through a door and an event or a situation happens in our life, and we fall into sin. This challenged my thinking as I thought about times when the door was closed behind me, and I turned away, feeling not worthy to enter back in. Through God's promises in the Scriptures, we need to rest assured that God offers all of us access into His presence. We just need to take the steps to turn back to Him.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, God gives us example after example of the doors that lead to Jesus. As we examine and think about the doors that I have mentioned, I pray that we will see how Jesus has met us at the door. My prayer is that this will give us a boldness to share with others how Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for providing just one door for us to enter. We are thankful for the different types of doors that lead to You, which we can show people so that they can find salvation and rest in knowing that You are always at the door. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
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Amen, Julie.
Thank you. a great perspective!
Thanks for a wonderful devotional, Julie.
Thank you, Julie. This was a timely reminder.
Good job with today’s devotional, Julie Ann…thank you.
(Texas)
Thank you, Julie, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us.
Blessings.
Thank you, Julie. I have visited the ark, too, and I like this insight that you had.
Great post Julie, very thought provoking. The ark in Kentucky would be interesting to see too!
The key to the door is love. – God’s love for us and Jesus’ sacrifice for us to open the door to God’s presence.
Dear Julie:
Great message…wonderful imagery…thank you!
(Ontario)
Thanks, Julie, for a very special and encouraging devotional. We need be so very grateful to our Lord each and every day as He is there and ever ready to open His door to us. Blessings for this writing.
Wow, amazing! Never quite realized this before and also makes me think where it mentions about the road less taken is narrow.
Thank you,
God bless.
Good morning, Julie
What an awesome devotional. I had never thought much about the ONE door in the ark. So true throughout the Bible from the Old to the New testament there are examples of doors. I had totally missed this one.
Blessings.
Julie, thank you for these strong examples of doors in scripture. They reminded of a little song I used to teach kids in Sunday school. The words were “One door, and only one. And yet its sides are two: Inside and Outside. On which side are you?” And then we would sing “I am the way, and the truth and the life, that’s what Jesus said!”
Eternal truths, for sure. Thank you for sharing them again.
Oh Julie, what a great devotional you have shared today! Like you, reading your message about the different doors also opened an unexpected perspective for me also! What a wonderful ‘aha’! Thanks!
Thanks for the challenge in your prayer to “give us a boldness to share with others how Jesus is the way, the truth and the life”!
I also join you in your closing prayer!
Blessings and peace to you as you go boldly forth!
Dear Julie,
How interesting that your devotion uses two ancient biblical stories that I am using in my sermon this Sunday. Both the story of a flood that wipes out almost every living being and a story involving the killing every firstborn human being and animal in Egypt as acts of God raises the question “When did God decide genocide was acceptable.”
I believe we gain insight into what God is like in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. On that we agree.
Good morning, Julie,
I went to the Ark a few years ago with a friend who suggested it and did the driving. It is truly an awesome experience which does open your eyes to something which is difficult to imagine from reading the Bible.
Your reflection on the meaning of “The Door” that appears in the Bible is very inspiring of the importance of this reference in our lives. The reminder that Jesus is the door and always willing to welcome us back if we have strayed is important to our faith. Knowing that the door is never permanently closed to us and to others, helps us to be able to spread the good news. God will forgive us if we ask.
It is interesting that we all gain different perspectives from similar experiences. When people are open to share their perspectives, we all benefit and grow in maturity of our faith. Thanks for sharing. Blessings.
Dear Julie,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on one door – Jesus Christ.
Thank you for relating this to your visit to the Ark! I will now look at the door of the Ark in a different light!
I have read about and am interested in the Ark Encounter but do not know of anyone from Canada who has visited it! Again, thanks for sharing, so appreciate it!
(BC)