Jesus told us that as it was in the days of Noah, so it would be in the days of His coming. (Mt. 24.37-39) Noah built an ark in his day that was the key to saving his family. Just as Noah built an ark, Jesus is building something too — His Church! (Mt. 16.18) The ark of Noah’s day is the Church today. The lesson here is we can’t make it alone. No man’s an island. Take a coal out of the fire and lay it by itself and it will go out. So it is with your spiritual life. You aren’t going to make it alone! You need the protection, safety, security, food supply, home base and much more that only the Ark — the Church, the community of believers, offers. So, are you a vital part of a solid and healthy local church?
The writer of Hebrews addressed this issue in Hebrews 10.25, and it is even more powerful now because it is in the context of the days we are living in, the days before the Lord’s return! “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
You see, there are raiders that try to keep us apart! But the the church is not a lost ark. It is vital and alive and there is a healthy church for you in your area if you will step out and find it and get involved! It’s not lost. It’s right there for you. But there ARE raiders. Jesus said there was. And it wasn’t just sin, as you might think. Jesus said people would be “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage — people didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.” They were distracted by everyday life! Their own selfish interests were more important than obeying God and connecting in the ark! It wasn’t overt sin, it was living a selfish and independent life apart from God’s people! They were “raided” by distractions and they ended up destroyed! Ummm… not good!
I know people who think they will make it without the church, God’s people. Ummm… Not. It didn’t work in Noah’s day, and it won’t work now. We need each other. Jesus is coming back for His CHURCH! Let’s gather together with Jesus, as His co-laborers (1 Cor 3), and together build what He is building — an awesome, magnificent, incredible, healthy, healing and glorious Church! Don’t let yourself get “raided”! I also know people who are on their 4th, 5th, 6th or NO church for all kinds of small and selfish reasons. They let themselves be distracted from God’s love and the building process in the ark. None of us has arrived. That’s what the “building” is all about! God is shaping us to fit together in His church. To be built together as an ark that will float! An individual life preserver won’t cut it! We need an ARK! The church in Acts was BIG! We are called to work together with others in love (Heb 10.24), allowing God to shape us, building us together into the church in an imperfect world!
So, are you part of a vital and healthy local church? Or have you been “raided”? Are you on your 4th, 5th, 6th church or NONE? God has an awesome place for you in His church for these last days! Together we are building with Jesus! It’s not about any one of us. It’s about us TOGETHER! His Church, His family! Find your place and dive in! You’ll be glad you were in the ark when Jesus returns!