‹‹  WEEK 11 — DAY 5  ›› 

Morning Nourishment

Gen. 6:16 "You shall make an opening for light for the ark, and you shall finish it up to a cubit  from the top; and you shall put the entrance of the ark in its side; you shall make it with lower, second, and third stories."

Eph. 2:18 "For through Him we both have access in one Spirit unto the Father."

     The first, second, and third stories signify the height of the ark [Gen. 6:16]. The three sections of the tabernacle signify the depths into which we all must enter. The three stories of the ark signify the height which we all must attain. In one sense we are getting deeper, and in another sense we are getting higher. Undoubtedly, the three stories of the ark signify the Triune God. In the Trinity of the Godhead, we always say, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Which person of the Trinity is the first story? It is easy to say who is the second, for we all know that the Son is in the middle. But is God the Father or God the Spirit the first story? In Luke 15 we find three parables: the shepherd recovering the lost sheep, the woman seeking
and finding the lost coin, and the father receiving the returned prodigal. The first parable concerns the Son, the second concerns the Spirit, and the third concerns the Father. According to our experience, the Spirit firstly came to us, found us, brought us to the Son, and inspired us to believe in the Son. After we believed in the Son, we called, “O Father.” The Spirit brings us to the Son, and the Son brings us to the Father. When we come to the Father, we are in the third story. (Life-study of Genesis, p. 404)

Today's Reading

     The first story of the ark is of the Spirit. Many Christians like to talk about the so-called baptism in the Holy Spirit and about the charismatic things, but this is all in the first story. We all must go to the Spirit in order to know the Son, Christ. To know Christ is different; it is higher. Someday we shall all reach the story of the Father. This is the highest, greatest, and most mysterious.

     Suppose I have a residence of three stories. If you are not my special friend, I would only admit you into the first story. I would not allow you into the second. If you are my good friend, I would admit you into the second story. However, unless you are so intimately related to me, I would never bring you into the third story to show you some of my mysteries, secrets, and hidden treasures.

     Suppose that you are now in the ark. Would you prefer to stay in the first, second, or third story? I have no doubt that Noah, his sons, and daughters-in-law were in the third story....I can testify to you that I have passed the first story. I want to go higher and higher.

     Following this, we come to the matter of light. In the ark there was one window toward the heavens (Gen. 6:16). That was the skylight. The Hebrew word for window, [or opening,] has the same root as the word for noon. This means that when you are under the window, you are in the noontime. You are in the sunshine and are full of light. Whether you are in the first, second, or third story is proved by the degree of light that you have. I have seen a good number of fervent Christians. In a sense they were on fire, but they were not so much in the light. I have also met some other dear saints whose presence made everything clear....Whenever a person sat down with [Brother Nee], all of his darkness vanished, and everything became clear. In his presence it was noontime....The more light you have, the higher you are, and the less light you have, the lower you are.

     There was only one window in the ark...There is only one window and only one light. The apostle Paul said that we must reject the doctrines different from what he preached and taught (Gal. 1:6-9; Rom. 16:17; 1 Tim. 1:3). In God's economy and in God's church there should be only one window. The light should not come from the north, south, east, or west, but from the sky. In the building of God, there is only one window, one revelation, and one vision. The light comes from above. (Life-study of Genesis, pp. 405-406)

Further Reading: Life-study of Genesis, msg. 30