“But
as the days of Noah were, so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37
This verse teaches us that the days surrounding Christ’s
second coming will be very similar to the days in which Noah lived. Although
Christ’s church will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air at least seven years
before his physical return to earth, many parallels can be drawn in advance of
this dreadful event just as dark clouds appear and winds pick up before a
storm.
“For
as in the days that were before the
flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,
until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away;
so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Mt. 24:38, 39
People were so consumed with self indulgences such as eating,
drinking, and marrying, that the flood took them by surprise even though Noah
was preparing the ark and preaching righteousness (2 Peter 2:5) right before
their eyes. Now consider some other commonalities between Noah’s time and
today.
“And
God saw that the wickedness of man
was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of
his heart was only evil continually… The earth also was corrupt before God, and
the earth was filled with violence.”
Genesis 6:5, 9
What seems to trigger Christ’s return is when the thoughts
of men’s hearts are “only evil
continually”. Since only God looks on the heart, we must take heed from the
external “wickedness” and “violence” that result. Consider a
parallel between the fall of Lucifer and the cause of “violence” in Noah’s time.
“By the multitude of thy merchandise they
have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned:
therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will
destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.”
Ezekiel 28:16
Satan’s abundance of merchandise “filled” him with “violence”
just like the people in Noah’s days. As we possess more and more merchandise,
more and more violence will inevitably follow too. Logically then, our escape
will have to be like Noah’s, “But Noah
found grace in the eyes of the LORD… Noah was a just man and perfect in his
generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:8, 9b).
Just as surely as “God
saw the wickedness of man” and pronounced judgment, he extended his “grace” to Noah when his “eyes” saw that Noah was “perfect” (without blemish from the
world) and that he had a walk pleasing to God. The following verse tells us
that God is still looking for people like Noah that he can bestow his grace upon.
“ For
the eyes of the LORD run to and fro
throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose
heart is perfect toward him…” 2 Chronicles 16:9a
We can only be “perfect”
and find “grace” by placing our faith
in God’s word and humbling ourselves to Him, apart from works. His “grace” is our only hope of escaping the
coming judgment. Friend, why not place your faith in Him only and receive
His gift of eternal life so you don’t miss the boat too?
“For
by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man
should boast” Ephesians 2:8, 9
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