Ark Vision by Ken Ham

Vision Summary

To rebuild the Ark, to full-scale biblical dimensions, as a sign to the world that God’s Word is true and its message of salvation must be heeded (Romans 3:4, 5:12).

Just as the Ark in Noah’s day was a sign of salvation, as well as judgment, an Ark rebuilt today can be a sign to point to Jesus Christ, the Ark of our salvation, and to coming judgment (II Peter 3:5-13, John 10:9).

The Legacy

On the chapel wall inside the Creation Museum, visitors see a special exhibit that features my father’s well-marked Bible. Reading the handwritten words in the Bible’s margins, guests can clearly read his copious notes. Next to his Bible, people see a small wooden model of Noah’s Ark that my father built for me just before he died. In many ways, that Ark is a representation of my father’s uncompromising stand on the authority of the Word of God beginning in Genesis.

I consider this exhibit, which also has a photo of my godly mother with my godly father, to be a challenge to parents about the legacy they are leaving their children. The Creation Museum’s bold stand in proclaiming biblical authority as well as presenting the saving gospel message are, in essence, the spiritual legacy of godly parents, They raised up their children—the next generation—to ensure that the truths of God’s Word and the gospel will not be lost for them. It is my prayer that the next generation will also proclaim this vital message to the world, and pass it on to following generations.

Reminders

Because of our sin nature, humans are inclined to forget the truths of His Word. That is why God instructs us over and over again in Scripture to be faithful in transmitting the truth of His Word and the gospel to the next generation Word (e.g., Deuteronomy 6: 5-9; Psalm 78: 1-7; Ephesians 6:4). He also tells us to meditate on His Word constantly (Psalm 1:1-2).

Often in Scripture, we are told of reminders that God gave to His people to carry out what He commanded them. He gave His followers the responsibility of ensuring that coming generations did not forget who God is and what He had done for them. For instance, the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11: 23-26) was given as a reminder to us never to forget what our Savior did in His death and Resurrection. His sacrifice means that people who receive His free gift of salvation will be saved for eternity

In the Book of Joshua, we read of another reminder. After the miracle of the crossing of the Jordan River, the people took twelve stones to build a memorial, so:

"That this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ "Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever" (Joshua 4:6-7).

Further on we read:

"When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ "then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; "for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over "that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever" (Joshua 6:21-24).

Reminders Forgotten

Sadly, we later learn that the fathers did not remind the next generation of the truth of God’s Word and what He had done for them. The next generation did not obey God’s Word as they should have:

“When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals; and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger”
(Judges 2:10-12).

Modern Reminders

In our Western nations, there have been similar reminders in the culture which helped ensure that people would not forget the truths of God’s Word. For example, there once were:

• Nativity scenes in public places and the greeting “Merry Christmas”—reminders that God stepped into history to be a man and to be our Savior.
• Crosses in public places—a reminder of the salvation message that all people need to respond to.
• Ten Commandments displays in public places—a reminder that God is holy and is the absolute authority, and He determines right and wrong; it was a reminder of the sinfulness of man who can’t keep the law and thus needs salvation in Christ.
• A belief that marriage is one man for one woman—a reminder that God instituted marriage when He created the first man and woman in Genesis 1.
• Creation, the Bible, and prayer in public schools—these were reminders that God brought the universe and life into existence and that His Word is the true history book of the universe, and that He is the only true God to whom we should pray.

All these were reminders that people should not forget the truth of God’s Word and its proclamation of the gospel message.

Reminders Removed

Sadly, the above reminders by and large have been removed from our Western culture, including the U.S. As each new generation enters modern society, people increasingly do not see these once-prevalent reminders.

Nativity scenes, Crosses, and Ten Commandments displays have basically been banned from public places. The words “Merry Christmas” are being replaced with “Happy Holidays.” “Gay” marriage is increasing legalized. Creation, the Bible, and prayer have been eliminated from the public education system.

About 90% of young people from America’s churches attend public schools, places where the reminders of God’s Word and the Christian faith have been all but removed. Almost all young people are being indoctrinated into a naturalistic, anti-God philosophy. Sadly, most Christian parents and churches are not teaching young people how to defend Christianity and to stand on the authority of God’s Word in the midst of secularist indoctrination. Devastating statistics reveal that 2/3 of these young people will one day leave the church. (See the research conducted by America’s Research Group and found in our book “Already Gone.”)

Another Generation

The exodus of young people from our churches will only continue if we fail to equip them with the answers to show that Christianity is a reliable and relevant faith. If we don’t, the church in America will end up like its counterparts in Europe—i.e., church buildings that have become relics of the past. (Travelers to Europe today see many church buildings that have been converted into secular businesses—and even into pagan institutions.)

Just as with the Israelites, it only takes one generation for a society to dramatically change. As we read in Judges 2, “another generation” had arisen after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done. It takes just one generation for a culture to lose the truth of God’s Word.

Our society desperately needs reminders that will challenge people to return to the authority of the Word of God. Now, what can be done to engage the world to remind them of the truth of God’s Word and its gospel message?

A Great Reminder

One of today’s great reminders of the worldwide Flood can be seen in the fossils buried in the ground–--the fossil record. Most of it is the graveyard of God’s catastrophic judgment of about 4,400 years ago. Sadly, because of the secularist indoctrination in our public schools and the media, our young people are taught not to accept the truth of a global Noah’s Flood and that the fossil record represents millions of years of death that lead up to the supposed evolution of man. Recent generations have been increasingly inoculated against this reminder found in Genesis.

Now, when people ask about the fossils in strata around the world, they are usually told that it was millions of years of evolutionary history, not a worldwide Flood, that led to the formation of the fossil record. Noah’s Ark is also relegated to myth status.

Re-create The Reminder

Even though most people today do not connect the enormous worldwide fossil-bearing strata with the truth of the worldwide Flood in Genesis, many of them have heard of the account of Noah and the Ark.

Indeed, Noah’s Ark continues to fascinate people. They are aware that Genesis records an account of a man and his family building a massive boat in order for land animals (and 8 people) to be saved. Even in the secular world, paintings, carvings, and even toy models of the Ark abound (though most of them make their Ark look more like an overloaded “bathtub” than a real ship).

Many expeditions have been funded to locate the remains of Noah’s Ark on Mt. Ararat in Turkey. Despite some reports that the Ark has supposedly been found, no firm documentary evidence has ever been brought to light. It certainly would be the archaeological find of the century if it were discovered. Even today, expeditions to Turkey to find the Ark get some headlines.

The Bible, however, does not say the Ark even landed on Mt. Ararat—the text reveals that it landed on the “mountains of Ararat” (Genesis 8:4). We do not know which mountain; furthermore, it would require a special miracle to preserve such a wooden ship for 4,400 years.

Ark Interest

Instead of continuing to spend millions of dollars to search for the remnants of a ship that may no longer exist, why not re-create the Ark based on the description and dimensions given in Genesis—a sign (or a reminder) to this world that God’s Word is true?

In a 60 Minutes/ Vanity Fair poll, as reported on the CBS news website, we read this:

“Ever since Robert Ballard found the Titanic, we've been dreaming of finding the next great artifact lost to history. Rediscovering Atlantis would be mind boggling, and finding Amelia's plane, Nixon's lost tape or Cleopatra's barge would no doubt get a lot of tongues wagging. However, finding Noah's Ark remains the Holy Grail of lost antiquities (or is the Holy Grail the holy grail?). Noah's Ark blows them all out of the water with 43 percent, after all it's tough to compete with something that's been touched by the Hand of God.”

Research commissioned by our Answers in Genesis ministry through America’s Research Group (ARG) of the general population across America revealed a surprising estimate concerning how many people would visit a Noah’s Ark if it were to be re-created in America. The study revealed that 63% say that they would take their families to see this full-scale Ark (that’s almost 200 million people), and ARG estimated that 1.6 million people would visit the Ark in the first year.

By recreating the Ark today, it would be a sign to the world that:

1. God’s Word is true and must be heeded – Rom. 3:4: “let God be true but every man a liar.”
2. All have sinned and suffer the penalty of death – Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”
3. There is a coming final judgment by fire, just as there was past judgment by a Flood – Matthew 24:37: "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
4. Noah’s Ark and the global Flood really happened in history, as the New Testament confirms—Luke 17:27: "They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.”
5. God has provided an Ark of salvation for all people (as He did for Noah and his family)—the Lord Jesus — John 10:9: "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

Reminder as a Legacy

Rebuilding Noah’s Ark would be an incredible legacy to remind this generation and following ones of the truth of God’s Word and its message of salvation.

Imagine walking through a full-size Ark where:

• 1. People are given an understanding of the massive size of the Ark; and are also shown how Noah could have built the Ark using various construction techniques and special technology. Illustrations would be given that would demonstrate how Noah could have cared for the animals. And Ark visitors would experience what life was like in Noah’s day.
• Carefully researched information will be given concerning the geological aspects of the Flood and their connection to the major portion of the fossil record—as well as the Ice Age that followed. Answers would be given as to how Noah could fit all the representative land animal kinds on board, for here was plenty of room.
• Such fascinating information would be used to challenge people’s thinking about why Noah built an Ark larger than he really needed for the kinds of land animal. Visitors will gain an understanding of God’s grace and mercy—that it is “not His will that any should perish.”’ There was plenty of extra room on the Ark for many other people should they have entered the doorway to be saved.

Message of Salvation

A major reason for rebuilding the Ark today is to proclaim the message of salvation—that just as Noah and his family had to go through the doorway to be saved, we also need to go through a doorway. The Lord Jesus is our door—the ONLY way to be saved. John 10:9 declares: "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

I praise the Lord for the legacy of my father and mother that is shown in the Bible-upholding Museum. This state-of-the-art attraction is reaching hundreds of thousands of people each year with the message of the authority of God’s Word and the saving gospel.

Join me as we take this legacy to a whole new level. Together, let’s build one of the greatest reminders of man’s sin and his need of salvation—but also to display God’s magnificent grace and mercy in providing an Ark of salvation.

Let’s rebuild the Ark! What a legacy, not just for Americans, but for people across the world—a legacy that will become one of this century’s greatest reminders that we all need to be on the Ark of salvation!

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