Episode #5 - The Door

We returned back to the Ark Encounter yesterday to walk through the experience again with our friends. As I stood before the door to the ark, I reflected on it's dual nature of salvation to those within, and judgment to those outside. Well...we all stand before a door as well, and that door is Jesus. If we enter in through him, we certainly will be saved. If we refuse him, we will be lost. What choice will you make?

#SetYourMindAbovePodcast

Transcript

Welcome to the Set Your Mind Above podcast, where everyday, ordinary events teach us extraordinary eternal truths! I am your host BJ Sipe, and I’m so glad you’ve tuned in today! I am excited to share my life & my faith with you, and I sure hope you’ll do the same with me along the way.

Well, we are nearing the end of our visit with our friends Kevin & Erica and their son William. Since we only had a few days left, we wanted to block out an entire day to go see an attraction they have been excited to visit: The Ark Encounter located in Williamstown, Kentucky. For those of you who are unaware of what this is, Ken Ham & his team at Answers in Genesis have created a life-sized replica of the Ark that Noah built as recorded in in the book of Genesis. You likely grew up hearing stories about the Ark and the great flood that took place so long ago, but walking through this exhibit gives you an entirely different perspective on so many levels. Three levels, actually, as you weave your way back and forth through the Ark and learn all kinds of fascinating things. Many things are factual in nature in what they present, and many other things they have taken artistic license with (admittedly) to speculate about how things could have been. One thing is for certain – you leave there both humbled and encouraged by this great and terrible event thousands of years ago. Aside from the Ark itself there is a small zoo, a zipline, a theater where videos are shown or live lectures are held, and some great eats also. I would encourage everyone to take your families and visit this attraction, and if you do and happen to be in our area give me a holler! I’d love to be able to link up with you and hear about your experience. There are many things that commanded my attention while we walked through the Ark again, and yet the one thing that I always come back to is the door to the Ark. Standing directly in front of it, you can’t help but admire the great size of this door – it’s huge, like something you would see on a castle. And yet when you stand back and admire the ark from a distance, it’s very small in comparison. While of course there are many entry points to the Ark exhibit itself (you don’t actually go through that door), when Noah built the ark as instructed by God there was only one door. That door served a dual purpose: both that of salvation and judgment. For years Noah preached to the people, begging them to repent and to turn back to the creator they had rejected in their lives. And yet, the not a single person would heed his words except his own family. Noah, his wife, his three sons & their wives would all enter in through that door to the Ark; once they had done so, God shut the door. For Noah’s family, entering through the door meant their salvation – but for the rest of mankind, God shutting the door meant their destruction. Once the flood waters came it would be too late, they could not get on the Ark so as to be saved. It was not just a door, but a representation of so much more. 

I stood in front of the door reflecting on these things, and then I began to think about how we all have been given this same choice in our own lives. We stand in front of a door, and we must decide whether enter through it or not. That door is Jesus. In his ministry as recorded by the apostle John, Jesus would make the following statement: “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:7-10) Just as God would bring judgment upon a world that was overrun with sin in the days of Noah, so God will bring judgment upon us because our great wickedness as well. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and the wages of our sin is death. This is a verdict that we have brought upon ourselves, God is just in bringing judgment upon us. And yet, we are not without hope. Just as Noah preached a message of salvation begging them to enter through the door, so we now preach a message of salvation calling the lost to come to Jesus. If you believe this message and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, you can be saved from the dreadful fate that awaits you otherwise. There are several applications that we should reflect on in understanding this parallel. First, there is only one door. Jesus would also say, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) The only way that we can be saved is through Christ. Not all roads lead to heaven, nor can we place faith in any other religious leader or man that was ever walked this earth. As Peter would declare to the Sanhedrin Council in Acts 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Second, there are no second chances. At the end of your life you will stand before Christ in judgment. If you are not found in him, he will not open the door again. In death the door is shut – and those that are found in Christ will be saved, but those who die outside of Christ will be lost. 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 says that those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus will, “Suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.” Today, Jesus stands before you as both the savior & the judge. Will you enter in through him? Or will you be lost because of your unbelief? I beg you, as Noah begged a people so long ago, enter through that door. 

Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode. Tune in, Tuesday-Friday’s, as a new podcast episode will be uploaded each day. Also, be sure to follow the Facebook page for the Set Your Mind Above podcast for future announcements and weekly video sessions that are uploaded on Saturdays. As you have the opportunity, share these thoughts with your friends and family, and share with me what important lessons you are learning from everyday, ordinary events. Until next time know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each and every day set our minds above.