The Third Level of Noah’s Ark

A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. (Genesis 6:16)

The Ark of Noah is one of the clearest and most familiar of the scriptural types of salvation. We have the "pitch," which is a type of the atoning blood of Christ; the destroying waters, a type of the judgment to come; and the Ark itself, a type of our safety and preservation in the Lord Jesus.

Unlike the ships to which we are accustomed, the Ark had a roof. It was covered and sealed shut by the Lord. When Noah let the birds out he had to open the window. In order for Noah to see if the waters had dried up he had to remove the covering of the Ark (Genesis 8:13).

Although the Scriptures do not say, it seems likely that the large animals were at the lowest level, the smaller animals were at the middle level, and the birds and humans lived at the third level. It also seems probable that the window was at the highest level.

The lesson to us is that all who enter the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved in the Day of God’s wrath. We are saved from wrath through Christ. This is the meaning of the term salvation.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9)

The hold of the Ark, the lowest level, typifies those who have been saved by the blood but have made no further headway into Christ. This is the same level of redemption represented by the Courtyard of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

Such believers have sprinkled the Passover blood on their lives and have gone through the Red Sea of water baptism. They may sit on the eastern bank of the Red Sea, so to speak, and look back across and see the sights and hear the sounds of the world (Egypt). They have not set out to bear their cross through the instructional tests and tribulations of the wilderness.

The middle deck of the Ark, then, would represent the Christian who is following the Lord in discipleship. He is active in the work of the church, receiving from the ministry of others and making his own contribution. He is discovering what sin is and how to overcome it. He is learning to obey the Holy Spirit.

The top deck of the Ark speaks of the throne of God and of Christ. It portrays the place of conquest, of victory in Christ. This is perfection, the "mark" toward which Paul was pressing. It is the fullness of resurrection life, the place of responsibility, of rulership, of discipline, of battle, of priestly service to God and the Lamb.

Christ addresses the victorious saints in the second and third chapters of Revelation. Each disciple of Jesus is invited to be an overcomer.

The design of the Ark brings two facts to mind: (1) all who put their trust in Christ will be saved; and (2) there are three levels of attainment in salvation.

One of the problems of the Church is that people cease pressing to a fuller grasp of Christ. The Book of Hebrews is an exhortation and warning concerning the need to keep on pressing toward the land of promise, the rest of God.

Multitudes of believers quit the race after being saved. They are content to wait for the Lord from Heaven. Meanwhile they are living too close to the fire of judgment, to the waters of destruction. They are as Lot—too involved in Sodom. This is a dangerous and unfruitful condition in which to remain.

What if Abraham had been too busy or too tired to pray when God came to overthrow Sodom? What would have happened to Lot?

In the present revival we find that many Christians are entering the life of the Holy Spirit in a greater manner. Hopefully this experience will result in an abundance of ministries and gifts operating in the churches. We receive the Holy Spirit so we may bear witness of the will of Christ to ourselves and to other people.

It is our understanding that Jesus is leading thousands of believers in active participation in prayer groups, in personal evangelism, in ministries of deliverance, in home Bible studies, in missionary work and support, in ministries in convalescent homes and institutions for mentally and physically disabled people, in prison work, and in all other areas of service to Christ. Such anointed service is typified by the middle deck of the Ark.

As we learn to stir up our ministries and gifts, realizing that the only important business in life is God’s business, the Holy Spirit points us toward the "top deck." Following the example of the Apostle Paul we do not make Christian service an end in itself. The throne of Christ is our goal.

While we are serving others to the best of our ability, as the Holy Spirit enables, we personally are climbing toward the power of His resurrection. We are willing to share His sufferings.

Day after day we inch up the rugged slopes of Mount Zion, the "secret places of the stairs," as the Lord Jesus directs. O that we may know Him!

Perfection is the place where each of our deeds, words, motives, and imaginations proceeds from the resurrection life of Christ. Such perfection of personality and action is not arrived at overnight. We are making progress each day.

Today finds more of our actions proceeding from resurrection life than was true yesterday. Another piece of us has died and in its place is resurrection life. We, by Christ’s help and encouragement, intend never to cease pressing toward the fullness of the knowledge of Christ until we have attained the first resurrection.

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