The Ark: Consequences

Oil on canvas, 16×20″, 2025
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Lessons from the Ark

Throughout history, the story of the Ark has stood as a powerful metaphor for the choices we are faced with in our own world. It reflects the reality that opportunities for salvation abound, yet many people turn away from them, ignoring the warnings until too late. Like those we imagine in the original story, there are countless individuals today who grasp the truth only when it can no longer save them.

Reflections and Warnings

This painting captures that moment of realization—the sorrow and regret of those who, absorbed in the world, did not heed the warnings of its impending destruction. Though these persons are not explicitly mentioned in the original Genesis account, artistic interpretations have depicted them desperately trying to enter the Ark as the floodwaters rise. Their plight serves as an allegory for all who delay until the last moment and evokes concern for those who now face greater dangers.

Imagination and Interpretation

I am reminded of Harry Anderson’s evocative painting Noah Building the Ark. While Genesis does not record Noah preaching to the masses, it is easy to imagine him striving to warn everyone, only to be dismissed and mocked. Ultimately, the story is a sobering reminder to take heed of God’s love before it is too late—a message as relevant today as ever as we await the Savior’s return.

Process

Painting this image took two days, once I had the image concept firmly established. Below is the result of my first day’s work.

Notice the stress marks on the painting, the scratches embedded in the gesso. These are intentional, adding a subtle level of meaning to the horrific details in this global story. It wasn’t just a pleasant boat trip across the ocean with cute animals. It was a battle for survival which that vast majority of people lost, brutally. God had His reasons, but the result was horrific by any definition. The scratches subtly amplify of that.

The hope is that we’ve learned our lessons. The truth as reflected in the Scriptures and seen daily, given the grim crimes happening in our homes, neighborhoods and across the world and our ever-greater tendencies to ignore, deny and defy God, suggest otherwise.

Still, I prefer to focus on hope. There is light shining on the boat. It is a story of eternal life, rescue, and second chances. We see that hope in every rainbow.

Additional Insights

This passage of scripture in Helaman chapter 13 perfectly sums up the feelings of the people in the small boat, though this passage is for people centuries later and half a world away. This interpretation for me arose from one of my daily studies of the Book of Mormon just as I finished the painting. Cool, the coincidences God gives to us. 

In this passage, the prophet Samuel warns his people in ancient America prior to a time of great destruction:

32 And in the days of your poverty ye shall cry unto the Lord; and in vain shall ye cry, for your desolation is already come upon you, and your destruction is made sure; and then shall ye weep and howl in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts. And then shall ye lament, and say:

33 O that I had repented, and had not killed the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out. Yea, in that day ye shall say: O that we had remembered the Lord our God in the day that he gave us our riches…

37 Behold, we are surrounded by demons⁠, yea, we are encircled about by the angels of him who hath sought to destroy our souls. Behold, our iniquities are great. O Lord, canst thou not turn away thine anger from us? And this shall be your language in those days.

38 But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.

39 O ye people of the land, that ye would hear my words! And I pray that the anger of the Lord be turned away from you, and that ye would repent and be saved.

These words reflect the lessons of the ark and are written for our day as we work through our own ark experiences prior to the destructions incident to Christ’s return. May we be found safe in the ark.