The Ark of Vision

Scripture: I Peter 3:20

We were once disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is eight persons, were brought safely thorugh the water.

God is patient with us, and His mercy is evident through His nature of longsuffering of the ways of sinful man. He gives us grace and time to come to ourselves; while at the same time, showing us a better, more perfect way through His Word.

The Ark that God instructed Noah to build, took a total of 120 years. It was 437.5 feet long, 72.92 feet wide, and 43.75 feet high. It had 3 decks with a total deck area of 95,000 square feet. The total volume of the ark would have been 1,396,000 cubic feet, giving it a gross tonnage of 13,960 tons; which is well within the category of a large metal ocean going vessel today. The ark was entirely adequate for it's God intended purpose, as it also carried 35,000 individual vertebrate animals; the average size being that of a sheep. When the ark was fully loaded, it sank into the water to half of it's weight. The ark was the only refuge for the human race for more than a year (371 days), as well as the only refuge for air-breathing animals, in the judgment of a universal deluge (Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, 1975).

During the time of the building of the ark , the people did not see the mercy of God; even though the ark took 43,800 days to build, and many men were employed by Noah and his sons to build it. Entire households were sustained financially through the construction of this magnificent barge; which was impossible to capsize (Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, 1975).

Even though judgment was coming, the sin of the people blinded them from the grace of God, and they did not see His provision. But God, was still true to His name (Jehovah Jireh - the Lord my Provider), throughout the building of the ark.

The ark was a place of refuge and protection. It represented life and provision, where every need would be met; just like the Word of God today.  The bible is the best selling book in the entire world, selling 100,000 million copies per year, and has sold over six billion copies to date. However, there are many people yet to believe the Word of God. Regardless of the sinful condition of man's heart, God is still patient, waiting until the day that His children embark into the ark of His Word.

Reflection:
When God gives us something to build by planting a vision in our heart, it is not a small feat for us to humanly accomplish on our own. Building what God has planted takes the hands, hearts and minds of many, to bring the vision to reality. Even though many people did not believe in the purpose of the building of the ark, the assignment was not cancelled. The ark was built despite the unbelief of others; because the visionary believed God, and he was obedient to His voice.

Prayer:
Father, I thank you that you give me the ability to be faithful and unwavering over what you have given me to build; regardless of what other people have to say, or how difficult the task may become. I thank you for the spirit of tenacity to build what you have implanted within my heart to build, and I will see the manifestation of it in my lifetime, to your glory, honor and praise. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Strong's Concordance Definitions:
I Peter 3:20b

Once: 4218
1) once i.e. formerly, aforetime, at some time

Were disobedient: 544
1) not to allow one's self to be persuaded
a) to refuse or withhold belief
b) to refuse belief and obedience
2) not to comply with
 
The patience: 4115
1) patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance
2) patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs

God: 2316
1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities

2) the Godhead, trinity
a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
a) refers to the things of God
b) his counsels, interests, things due to him

4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
a) God's representative or viceregent
1) of magistrates and judges

Kept waiting: 553
1) assiduously and patiently waiting for

In the days: 2250
1) the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night

a) in the daytime
b) metaph., "the day" is regarded as the time for abstaining from indulgence, vice, crime, because acts of the sort are perpetrated at night and in darkness
2) of the civil day, or the space of twenty four hours (thus including the night)
a) Eastern usage of this term differs from our western usage. Any part of a day is counted as a whole day, hence the expression "three days and three nights" does not mean literally three whole days, but at least one whole day plus part of two other days.
3) of the last day of this present age, the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdom
4) used of time in general, i.e. the days of his life.

Noah: 3575
Noah = "rest"

1) the tenth in descent from Adam, second father of the human family

During the construction: 2680
1) to furnish, equip, prepare, make ready

a) of one who makes anything ready for a person or thing
b) of builders, to construct, erect, with the included idea of adorning and equipping with all things necessary

The ark: 2787
1) a wooden chest or box
2) in the NT the ark of the covenant, in the temple at Jerusalem
3) of Noah's vessel built in the form of an ark

A few: 3641
1) little, small, few

a) of number: multitude, quantity, or size
b) of time: short
c) of degree or intensity: light, slight

Were brought safely: 1295
1) to preserve through danger, to bring safely through

a) to save, i.e. cure one who is sick, bring him through
2) to save, keep from perishing
3) to save out of danger, rescue

Through: 1223
1) through
a) of place
1) with
2) in
b) of time
1) throughout
2) during
c) of means
1) by
2) by the means of
2) through
a) the ground or reason by which something is or is not done
1) by reason of
2) on account of
3) because of for this reason
4) therefore
5) on this account

Water: 5204
1) water
a) of water in rivers, in fountains, in pools
b) of the water of the deluge
c) of water in any of the earth's repositories
d) of water as the primary element, out of and through which the world that was before the deluge, arose and was compacted
e) of the waves of the sea
f) fig. used of many peoples

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Peter's First Epistle - 1 Peter 3 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 16 Dec 2009. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=1Pe&c=3&t=NASB >

Higgins, S. (2009). The Ark of Vision. Devotions for Thought. http://www.higginspublishing.com, http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com

Soon Ministries. (2009). The Bible Page THE BIBLE. It tops the best seller lists every year. Nothing beats it. World sales of the Bible are more than 100 million every year. Retrieved on December 16th, 2009 from http://www.soon.org.uk/page19.htm

Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia. (1975) Ark, Noah's (pg. 140). Volume I A-J. Moody Press Chicago.