History Repeats

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Heb. 11:7

We do well to give heed to the description given of the "days of Noah, for our Lord said, that as it was in those days, so shall it be in the days that close the present age.

Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 
Mat 24:38  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, 
Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 
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​The world of that time had made great progress in the arts and civilization of life. But, as it has happened repeatedly all through human history, great luxury produced infamous immorality, cruelty, and widespread indifference to the claims of God. Things took place in those olden times which have their counterpart in the great cities of our time. In its feverish atmosphere sin of every kind abounded, and in mercy to the race, there was no alternative than to bring that wicked generation to an end. "They ate, they drank; they married, and were given in marriage, and knew not, till the flood came and carried them all away."

Amidst all this, Noah lived an unblemished and righteous life. He walked in daily converse with God.

​Gen 6:7  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 
Gen 6:8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 

His Almighty Friend was able to reveal to him His intentions. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant."

Keep near to God, that you may hear the accents of His still small voice. Our happiest experience is when we walk with Him in unbroken fellowship, and He takes us into covenant with Himself. Through any one individual, whose heart is perfect toward Him, God will save others. We too shall cross the Flood of Death and enter the new life of Resurrection, but we must be quick to detect His voice, and our hands deft to fulfil the revelations of our Divine Teacher and Friend. (Our Daily Walk)

A Business As Usual World

When we read Jesus' account of Noah's day, and use it to compare it to when He will return, several things can be taken from it:

Those of Noah's day lived in a business as usual fashion, nothing out of the ordinary was expected to happen. People were eating, partying, marrying, going from one event to another; many in Noah's day were well to do, every need was met, and pleasures of life were in easy reach.

Their minds were reprobate-scripture tells us all they thought of was evil, continually.

Gen 6:5  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. 

During the years Noah worked on the ark, he and Methuselah both preached a hundred and twenty years, but neither of them succeeded in converting anyone. There was no good to be found among them, no not at any time: the stream of sin was full and strong, and constant; and God saw it. Here is God's resentment of man's wickedness. He did not see it as an unconcerned spectator, but as one injured and affronted by it; he saw it as a tender father sees the folly and stubbornness of a rebellious and disobedient child, which not only angers but grieves him, and makes him wish he had been childless.

Any pastor, bible teacher or leader who feels burnt out, discouraged, and ready to quit, should go back and read this account of Noah, and research what it was like then, and realize we are in the same situation today. You may have a small group of people in a little chapel, a home bible study with a group that doesn't seem to be growing, but keep coming, you may be a weary street preacher that's had a lot of abuse, harassment, ridicule, but seen no proof that your work is getting anyone saved; and wonder if it's time to quit.

Don't let the devil take over your mind, and get you to beat yourself up, if you don't have a lot of people following you. Noah didn't either. Just keep being faithful, and do what God's given you to do. John Wesley said this-and he's right: "We aren't responsible for what people do with our preaching the Word of God, the one who hears it is responsible for what they do with it".

When the time came that God told Noah to go into the ark, and God shut the door; only Noah's family went in with him, eight souls. When the deluge began, it didn't stop until every one standing, who was left out, perished.

This is a sad commentary on our day, because in watching and listening to people today, it is clear, people again are in the same pattern of evil, and wickedness, as before the flood. The saddest part of it is, they do not see themselves as they really are; they are blind, and refuse to do so.

Every gross, heinous, and vile sin is out in the open today-there is no self control, no restraint either in speech, or conduct. Violence, oppression, wantonness, foul profanity is free-flowing. Lying, theft, and rioting in the streets, and open markets is common, its not safe anywhere anymore.

Jesus gives a somber warning at the end of this discourse, that warns us all, to pay attention to the days, for they are evil, and to be watchful:
Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 
Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 
Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 

Watchfulness is staying awake, keeping our souls in tune with our surroundings, and discerning the events taking place and discerning the times, to not be caught unaware. As the disciples who fell asleep when they were with Jesus in the garden, as he agonized in prayer before going to the cross-we are prone to be dull, and drop into slumber while the devil and his agents are working relentlessly to overtake all those who he finds sound asleep, and drugged by the worlds' pleasures.

Peter gives wise advice in the day we are in, to guide us in the warfare we wage in these end days:
1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 
1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 

In summary-an excerpt of comfort from F.B. Meyer:
"All grace is in God for every hour and need, 1Pe_5:10. We too are called to His eternal glory through Christ. The path of suffering, and that path alone, leads to the world where suffering is unknown. The suffering is only for a little while. Perfect, that nothing be lacking; stablish, that we may not waver; strengthen, that we may stand and withstand."