# 81 Shut De Door

The Book of Genesis Day 81 Ge 7:13 On the very same day Noah and Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark- 14 they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. 15 And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. 16 So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in. “And the Lord shut him in.” Isn’t that interesting? The door of the ark closed from the outside. It was God who applied the final pitch and sealed the door. When God secures the door to danger, no power on heaven or earth can break it down in order to do harm to those who have entered the ark of His protection. I’m reminded of these lyrics from the song, “In Christ Alone,” “No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.” But it’s not just song lyrics that speak of God’s protection, let’s look at some Scripture that speaks loud and clear on the subject as well: Ps 37:28 reminds us, “he will not forsake his saints. The righteous shall be preserved for ever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.” Perhaps even more applicable to Noah’s situation, we read in Ps 46:1-3, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah” Then there’s the reminder in Isa 49:8, that also seems very fitting for Noah’s situation: “I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;” These words and promises of God were very real to Noah and his family, but they became a frightening opposite reality to those who willfully rebelled against God, and were left scratching at the door looking for a way in, but it was too late! Noah and his family could say with the Apostle Paul in Ro 8:38,39, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is the confidence we may have as God shuts the door on the devil, and seals us with His Holy Spirit of promise found in baptism (which is likened to the ark in 1 Pet 3:20,21) Jesus said in Joh 10:28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” We are placed in His hand, given eternal life, at baptism, but it is important to realize that God doesn’t hold us with a clenched fist, it is rather an open hand. And though the devil may buzz us and distracts us with all sorts of lies and difficulties, he cannot snatch us out of the hand of Jesus, however, we can choose to leave that protection and walk out of that hand on our own volition Therefore, baptism must be accompanied by enduring faith in order to save! Mr 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Reflect: Noah hopped in the ark but God sealed the door, we hop in the waters of baptism and God seals us (marks us as His own) Can you name any other benefits of baptism that God promises! Pray: Thank You Lord for the pure grace of baptism, we enter into it willingly through faith and we thankfully receive all of Your blessings associated with it in accordance with Your Word!