Noah obeys and enters the ark when he is told to, along with his family. He’s saved by God, but he also is saved because of his obedience. Noah is six hundred years old. He brings with him seven of every clean animal and a pair of each of the unclean animals.

The Lord tells them that in seven days, the flood will begin. Noah had known it was coming, but now he knew pretty precisely when it would be coming. God protects them by warning them, preparing them with a boat and food, and by shutting them in.

God closes the door and shuts them in. God used the ark to save them by shutting them in.

Jesus is our salvation, our ark of rescue, our hiding place from the storm. Are you shut in? Is Christ your refuge? Do you only run to Christ when the rain is already starting to fall? Or have you learned to dwell in the secret place, shut in with Christ, so that you are already protected when the floodgates open?

Psalm 91:1-2 says, “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” (NLT) Another translation, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (ESV)

A fortress, that’s some strong protection. I think of abiding as knowing who Christ is, knowing who our God is, and refusing to be budged from that position of truth. It’s a place of rest and safety. It doesn’t matter what’s going on around us physically, spiritually, locally, or globally. We’re at rest. And we dwell there; we live there, and we remain there by faith, real faith that shows itself in obedience.