NOAH'S ARK. REALLY?

We’ve all been waiting for it--the discovery of the real Noah’s ark. Consider the attention given in recent days to the claim that remnants of Noah’s ark has been found on Mount Ararat in Turkey. A team from “Noah’s Ark Ministries International,” based in Hong Kong, claims that wood found on the mountain came from Noah’s ark — with a certainty of “99.9 percent.”

How incredibly great will it be if it they are correct? The whole world will see that there really was a Noah--there really was an ark--the Bible is really true. The remnants could be retrieved, put on display in New York City and millions of people could view it and who knows--maybe this could be the greatest evangelistic breakthrough in the history of civilization.

Not so fast.

Even if the discovery is authentic (and many reputable archaeologists remain cautiously skeptical) it is still just a relic. The list of authentic relics is a mile long with the Dead Sea Scrolls somewhere near the top. And still we are waiting for the world to be turned upside down.

The fact remains that Christians should not give too much attention to such claims in the first place. Our confidence that the account of the flood and Noah’s ark happened in space, time, and history is grounded in the Bible, not in remnants of ancient timber.

If archaeologists later agree that the fragments are indeed from Noah’s ark, that will be a matter of real interest to Christians, but it should add nothing to our confidence in the Bible. If the fragments are determined to be authentic or, most likely, if there is no consensus at all, this will not detract anything from the truthfulness, authority, and sufficiency of the Scriptures.

Our confidence is in the Bible as the Word of God, not in gopher wood.

May 23rd at Gatetree

This Sunday we will continue in our series Ten Values That Build Strong Families--based on the 10 Commandments. Sunday’s sermon is titled “Honor Your Parents.” If you’re in the neighborhood at 10:45 AM, please drop in and be our guest. We’d really like to meet you.