It is recorded in the book of Genesis that there came a time in human experience when wickedness seemed to prevail to such an extent that the thoughts and imaginations of mortals were only evil. This condition of thought led to the inevitable result, namely, error's self-destruction, and it was externalized in what is known in Biblical history as the great flood.
Not all of mortal thought at that time was wicked, however, and the exception was typified by Noah and his family, who reflected spiritual thoughts, which are eternal and therefore self-sustaining. The desire for good or righteousness which found expression in Noah, brought him into a close relationship with God and enabled him to turn away from materiality to the contemplation of things spiritual. Thus he was lifted above the discord, disaster, and destruction which according to material sense seemed to be manifest on every hand. Noah's understanding of Principle apparently was not sufficient to enable him to rise entirely above the conditions that surrounded him without some human effort, and he therefore followed the leadings of divine guidance and prepared the ark, which typified his highest sense of divine protection. Then we are told that he and his house, or those seeking righteousness, entered the ark, with all that was necessary for their sustenance; and that the waters bore up the ark so that it was lifted above the earth.
The desire to obey Principle, and the endeavor to bring out the highest sense of right, took form in Noah's experience as an ark of safety, which lifted his thoughts above erroneous, destructive beliefs so they could not touch or harm him in any way, even though the waters covered the face of the earth. To human sense every phase and condition of evil was manifested, but God's sustaining, protecting care was round about those who turned away from materiality, and it lifted them above the so-called destructive forces of matter into the realm of Spirit, or Life.
