Hello everyone, as we go along the days are getting darker and the expectations of our savior’s return get greater. But what should we be looking for in anticipation of that? Let’s look to Jesus’s words to His disciples and us when HE was asked that same question.
“(36) But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. (37) For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. (38) For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, (39) and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so, will the coming of the Son of Man be. (40) At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. (41) Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. (42) “Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. (43) But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. (44) For this reason, you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will (Matt 24:36-44).
“Lord Jesus, I pray that you would open our hearts and minds to receive what it is you are telling us today. May those things that are not your truth fall away like chaff and only the truth you give be taken in by our spirits and minds in Jesus’ name, Amen.
“As in the days of Noah, so will it be on the coming of the Son of Man (Matt. 24:37, NIV). I try to contain my scripture interpretation to the New American Standard Bible so that it can be uniformly looked at and studied by you. However, this particular verse is expounded so well in the New International Version I chose to do so here. The reason is in the wording and the emphasis on the words of what it will be like. I think it is easy to skip over this verse and lump it into the next two verses and assume that it is referring to just the ignorance or denial of the people who failed to see the coming judgement. While this is also true it is also important to examine what the people were doing and what their mindset was at the time of those events of the flood.
“(5) Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. (6) So, the LORD was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (7) Then the LORD said, “I will wipe out mankind whom I have created from the face of the land, mankind, and animals as well, and crawling things, and the birds of the sky. For I am sorry that I have made them.” (8) But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (9) These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. (10) And Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (11) Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. (12) And God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for humanity had corrupted its way upon the earth. (13) Then God said to Noah, “The end of humanity has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of people; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth (Gen. 6:5-13, NASB).
The intent of their thoughts were only evil continually. This means that they thought, said, and did what was contrary to what God say’s is right. Meaning that sin governed their thoughts and actions. Not only did they not seek another way to do things, but they could not even see that what they were doing was wrong. However, if they were willing there were signs that something was wrong, and they needed to change.
Contrary to the story books that you may have read as a child or to your children. Noah did not go into the city preaching judgement. He simply did what God told him to do and built an ark: “So Noah did these things; according to everything that God had commanded him, so he did (Gen. 6:22).” But it is not difficult to imagine the people passing by as Noah built the ark questioning why he was doing so. Therefore, it is likely that word traveled that a man was building an ark so that he and his family would be safe when a flood came upon the earth. Consequently, the signs of coming judgement were there to see if the people looked. Likewise, because Noah was righteous or in right standing with God the option was available to turn to the Lord and seek Him if the people wanted to. They simply did not because their thoughts were only continually on evil.
Returning to the words of Jesus; He said that His coming will be like it was in the days of Noah. Meaning that the people will be carrying on with their lives with no thought or care for their creator or the consequences of their evil actions and thoughts. One need not long around our world today and see that that criterion is once again prevalent on the earth. Though, we do not know the day of His coming the signs are there for those who are righteous to see. In light of this what will your response to this reality be?
The Lord gave us a mission:
“(18) And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. (19) Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matt, 28:18-20).”
We who are called by His name need to be about the work He has given us to do. If the time is indeed short, why are we wasting it doing anything but trying to reach those who have not come to submission and belief in Him? To them His return will be a shock, they cannot see the signs as we do. Therefore, we can see must prepare for His return as Noah prepared for the flood:
“So, Noah did these things; according to everything that God had commanded him, so he did (Gen. 6:22).”
Spread the message of the gospel. Make disciples or teach those who respond to the message so that they become grounded in the truth. Baptize them so that in going under the water their sins are left with him in His death and then washed clean as they rise in Him out of the water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To emphasize the importance Jesus then returns to teaching them to do all that He commanded us to do. This is the work that we must be doing. May we respond as Noah did.
Maybe you’re reading this, and you are feeling the weight of your sin in your life. I have good news, Jesus came to this earth, lived a sinless life, suffered, and died on a cross, and three days later rose from the dead. Because of this you can find true forgiveness for your sins. All you need is to “confess Jesus as the Lord of your life and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9).” He knows you and what you have done, and He offers you grace. He forgives you and sets you free from the bondage of sin because He loves you. All that is required is to submit to His authority. Then take Him at His word and believe by faith that He died and rose again for your sins, and you will be saved.
Thank you for joining me today as we searched the scriptures for What the Word is Saying. I pray that God will send His Holy Spirit into our lives anew and fill us again with His love and His purpose for us. So that we can fulfill the mission He left us in bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. If you have responded to the message of the gospel, please contact us so that we may stand beside you in your new walk with Jesus. If the content of this message has impacted you, feel free to contact and express how God has used it to impact your life.
“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used with permission. All rights reserved.” lockman.org.
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