Gloriously "Trapped"

Recently I came across this quiz and decided to see how long I could stay "trapped" in my own home. Trapped is a pretty strong word, however, as I am quite the homebody and would love a few days on end where I did not have to leave the house! The assumption is, I gather, that there would be some sort of natural disaster or Y2K-type event. Which, of course, I don't want. But, I would relish a few days at home! (My dog is now looking askance at me though, having read the quiz over my shoulder and seen himself listed as a potential "food source" by those who developed it. Don't worry Zacchaeus, you're safe.)


OnePlusYou Quizzes and Widgets

So, how long do you think you could survive "trapped" in your own home? If you had no way to leave, would you feel trapped? I might relish it for a few days or a couple of weeks but... 70 days? What about 370 days? That's how long Noah was on the ark.

This was my reading from the Spurgeon Archive this morning. It is from the story of Noah and based on Genesis 7:16, "The Lord shut him in."

Was Noah "trapped" in the ark? He had no way to leave, so I guess we could see it as trapped, but in reality that was the safest place for him. I love the whole entry, but these words spoke to me so clearly through their imagery:

"Noah was so shut in that no evil could reach him. Floods did but lift him heavenward, and winds did but waft him on his way. Outside of the ark all was ruin, but inside all was rest and peace. Without Christ we perish, but in Christ Jesus there is perfect safety. Noah was so shut in that he could not even desire to come out, and those who are in Christ Jesus are in Him for ever. They shall go no more out for ever, for eternal faithfulness has shut them in, and infernal malice cannot drag them out."

Many people who are not Christians might view the Christian life as being "trapped," or "shut in." Too confining. Too narrow. Not open enough to new ideas. Too many "thou shalts" and "thou shalt nots." Too closed off from mainstream society. To be sure, humans have added to the Bible in ways that are legalistic and we need to guard against that. But, according to the Bible, it is through the narrow gate that we find salvation, ultimate safety and freedom. Outside the confines of the ark was where the destruction was.

I love how he says that Noah "could not even desire to come out, and those who are in Christ Jesus are in Him forever." What security! Earlier in the entry he points out that God had said to Noah, "Come into the ark." Come. Implying that He Himself was inside as well. You can't stand outside of something and tell someone "Come in." God Himself was with Noah, just as He is with us. So, we are "shut in" with Him. We are safe with Him, and anything that tries to get to us only pushes us heavenward.

I just loved these thoughts today. Whether we are in fact, homebound for a season or out and about wishing for more time at home, let us remember that if we are in Christ we are gloriously "shut in" with Him. We are safe!