"The Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation" (Genesis 7:1).

Noah is a very striking example of one who has been declared righteous because of his faith. It was faith that led him to prepare an ark for the saving of his house, when there seemed no evidence of a coming flood. It was faith that led him to obey God and enter that ark, with all his family, when commanded to do so by God. Inside the ark all were secure until the deluge was over. They were kept by omnipotent power. The ark bore all the brunt of the storm. Noah and his household were shut in by God who had Himself closed the door (Genesis 7:16). The same hand that shut them in, shut all the unbelieving antediluvian world outside. The ark was a type of Christ. All who are in Christ are eternally secure.

Suppose when the ark was completed God had said, "Now, Noah, go and get eight large, strong spikes and drive them into the side of the ark." Imagine Noah procuring these spikes and doing as commanded. Then when each spike was securely fastened, let us presume that God said, "Come thou and all thy house and take hold of these spikes, and all who hang on to the end of the flood will be saved." How long do you think Noah and the rest would have been secure?

I can imagine each one taking hold of a spike—then the waters rising as the rain poured down. In a few minutes they would have been soaked to the skin. Then think of the terrific strain on joints and muscles as the ark was lifted from the earth and began its perilous voyage through the raging waters. I think I hear Noah calling to his wife, "Mother, how is it going; is all well?"

And she calls back, "I'm holding on. Do pray for me that I may be able to hold out to the end!"

Soon poor Mrs. Ham would cry out, "It's no use, I can't hang on any longer. I am going to fall." Soon she was swept away by the flood. How long do you suppose it would be before every one of them would be obliged to let go and so go down to death in the lengthy fury of the flood?

Thank God, that is not a true picture of His salvation. He is not calling men to hang on to Christ. But just as Noah entered into the ark and found there perfect security, so every believer is in Christ and thus saved for eternity. It is not a question of our ability to hang on, but of Christ's ability and power to carry us safely through to the glory (1 Peter 1:3-5). He who has begun the good work in us will perfect it until the day of manifestation (Philippians 1:6).

—H.A. Ironside