What’s an Ark
It was a simple basket of bulrush reeds that floated a little baby named Moses to safety when his life was in danger; it was an astonishing floating vessel about 450 feet long with a three deck area of about 2.3 acres that saved the creatures of the earth from the great deluge; it was the chest-like throne of God carried by the Israelites of His people. A symbol of the covenant of love between God and His people. This very Ark is prophesied in Revelation 11:19,
to be seen in the temple in God’s Kingdom. All these “Arks” are touched by the hand of God himself.
There is another Ark to talk about; an Ark in the modern day “flood” of abuse and neglect; an Ark in the rushing waters of a world dominated by the almighty dollar; an Ark, encamped in the wilderness of our own backyards. This Ark houses, protects and cares for hundreds of God’s Creatures; large, small, hungry, abused, neglected, lonely, injured, hurting! Creatures who have only one simple request, asked through loving eyes, “Please, Help me”. With such a simple request comes the enormous and complex task of actually providing that help — that refuge — to those in need. A refuge not easily provided in a world dominated by money when the refuge is dominated by love. The only thanks or reward this Ark receives is not in the form of trophies or ribbons or inscriptions on plaques, but is reflected through those same eyes that were once pleading for help — the reward is love, pure and unconditional, and it is enough!
But this Ark also extends help to the human species. Man is the only creature who wants to know “What’s in it for ME?” The answer is the same, (we must be willing to see the simplicity of it all), love, pure, unconditional, without judgment or greed or abuse or neglect. Just love — unconditional love extended from the hand of God through His children.
This Ark extends that Hand into the hearts of many: lonely, forgotten hearts in nursing homes; bitter hearts in prisons; sad, hurting hearts in hospitals; curious hearts in schools; frightened, broken hearts of children who have been removed from their homes and need protective custody. The Hand of God touches all those hearts through the eyes of His creatures — eyes radiating God’s unconditional love.
This love is freely given. Unfortunately, in a world ruled by the dollar, this freely-given love is very expensive to support. Fruit from the tree of life was banned in the earliest days of man. This “fruit” must now be purchased with the mighty dollar. In times when holiday expenses are still being paid from using the plastic cards, taxes, insurance, license plates all come due as well. It’s easy to brush aside the voice of our conscience reminding us to tend to the “higher priorities”. These times are toughest on God’s creatures and the loving folks who tend to radiate their Creator’s pure, unconditional love. These are the people whose hearts break each time they are forced to say “No” to a hurting child or animal because there’s simply not enough space or money for food and other care.
Let us never forget whose Hand really feeds us all — it is a hand felt daily at Noah’s Ark — it is the Hand of God; the hand of love; and through His perfect love, there are no limitations!
