Most of us heard about Noah’s ark when we were children in Sunday school. We were taught that the animals came to Noah, and they all got in the ark and were saved from the flood that covered the earth.

I was not yet a believer in the promise of life when I first heard the account of Noah’s ark. But I did believe that it happened just as the Bible reports. I was convinced that God flooded the whole world.

I do not ever remember thinking that the Flood was just a local flood. After all, we have major local floods every few years. Remember Helene and Katrina? If the rainbow is God’s promise that there will not be any local flooding, then He lied.

That is one reason it’s important that Noah’s flood was universal. The Bible clearly pictures the entire planet covered in water. The truthfulness of God’s Word is at stake, though I realize that many people do not see it that way.

A second reason is because it explains the Grand Canyon, the young earth, the fossil record, and the rock layers. See this article at AIG and this video by Creation Ministries International for more details.

Did you know that belief in the worldwide flood is linked with believing in Jesus’ soon return? That is a big third reason. Peter wrote:

…scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men (2 Pet 3:3-7).

The future destruction of the earth will not be limited to some mere local destruction. The whole planet and universe will be destroyed. See Rev 21:1-3. John saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had been destroyed.

The idea that “all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” is called uniformitarianism. Noah’s flood is inconsistent with uniformitarianism.

I realize that people can reject young earth creationism and the worldwide flood and yet believe that by faith in Jesus they have everlasting life that cannot be lost. And I know the opposite is possible as well. A person can reject justification by faith alone, apart from works, yet believe in a young earth and the worldwide flood.

However, the more of God’s Word we believe, the more likely we are to believe in Jesus for everlasting life. I think theistic evolution is a dangerous doctrine.

The account of Noah and the ark is not just for children. It is for all of us. As Josh McDowell has pointed out, there are over two hundred people groups who tell about a man and his family and animals being saved from a worldwide flood. See this Ark Encounter video about those traditions.

I believe that Noah’s flood was worldwide. If you don’t, why not pray about it and meditate on what the Scriptures say on this subject. Believing in the worldwide flood can have a powerful impact on your walk with Christ. And that’s a fourth reason why this teaching is so important.

Keep grace in focus.