“So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself” (Genesis 8:9)

Throughout Christian history, Noah’s ark has been used as a metaphor for the salvation of a remnant of mankind to take place before the Day of the Lord “The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved” (Joel 2:31-32). 

 The dove had been sent out by Noah to see if the flood had receded enough for her to find a place to rest. This time she returned exhausted. She had just enough strength to reach the edge of the ark, when Noah pulled her in. This was a necessary act of mercy, for the dove should have returned while she still had strength, but Noah didn’t scold her for staying away too long. He probably knew she was looking for fresh food, like Israel in the Wilderness, who longed for “the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic” (Numbers 11:5). 

 Every moment the sinner puts off coming to Christ increases the likelihood he won’t make it. You know by now, through the things He’s allowed to happen to you, that He’s drawing you to Himself. Christ said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). If you feel any secret desire to earnestly seek God, it’s a good sign you’re not yet utterly forsaken. But who can know whether this is the last hint of grace God will give you? Who can tell whether this day God might swear, in His wrath, that you shall not enter into His rest (Hebrews 3:18)?