As it was in the days of Noah

When I studied the times during the days of Noah for my next release The Ark and the Dove, it was not hard to imagine how it might have been back then.

“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.” 

Genesis 6:5-6 NIV

I wonder what the Lord thinks when he looks on the earth and its people now? If ever I have lived through a time of evil, it has never been greater (in my lifetime) than it is now. Growing up I knew there were problems in the world. My parents lived through all sorts of atrocities, particularly WWII and so much more.

I remember being a young teen during the ’60s sexual revolution, and naive as I was then, I couldn’t understand why my dad got upset with the idea of “free love.” What was so wrong with that? Of course, I didn’t understand what “free love” meant or the whole hippie era. I was just young enough for most of that to bypass me.

As we raised our kids, we taught them about Jesus and around that time I fell in love with studying the Bible and the people God immortalized there. I was far from the understanding of Him that I have now, and yet, even now, I struggle. How does one grasp the complex nature of the Almighty? And yet I want to. I still believe and trust Him, even though life has not gotten easier with time.

No…life has gotten much, much tougher. I honestly never thought I would live to see the things I am seeing today. I mean, I always knew the day would come when Jesus would return. And I hoped it would be in my lifetime. But I didn’t comprehend just how hard life in this world would be before that final day came. I didn’t realize just how painful birth pangs could be.

Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 

Matthew 24:37-39 NIV

Today we are in the middle of multiple crises on many levels not only in our western society but the world as a whole. There are wars that are growing worse, and nations are rising against nation. There are earthquakes and pestilence and powers that be that do not realize the unseen realm that is pushing us toward the end. I don’t want to sound like a doomsday prophet, but as an author who spends much time in the Bible, I dare not be silent when I know what is coming. The watchman on the wall warns the city when danger is near.

Believers in Jesus need to warn those they know and love that we are seeing prophecy escalate towards fulfillment. Perhaps the very end is still many years off, but what if it is not? What if what we are seeing in the world is pointing us to the very things Jesus said would come to pass?

Paul also spoke of those last days, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV

Don’t we see at least some of these things ringing true?

In addition, right now, all eyes are on the war in Israel. Many are asking if this war is spoken of in Scripture and if it could be the beginning of prophecy being fulfilled. From what I have learned from those who study these things, even they wonder. Be cautious. But also be aware. No one knows the day or the hour, but we can read the signs and be alert. Why? Because the world needs to know the truth. People must know that Jesus keeps His promises. He fulfilled what He needed to the first time He came. He isn’t going to renege on the promises yet to come.

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.”

Matthew 24:32-33 NIV

“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Matthew 24:44 NIV

The Middle East will always be a hotbed of animosity until Jesus returns to set up His kingdom. There is no peace that will last until the Prince of Peace rules there.

That does not mean that we do not pray for peace. It also does not mean that we stop speaking about the coming kingdom. We are still in the age of grace and God is still calling, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

It is more “at hand” today than it was 2000 years ago. And yet, in the last days, Peter said that people would say,

“Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

2 Peter 3:3-13 NIV

We do not know how soon these things will take place. But…as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when Jesus returns, and they were taken by surprise because they didn’t heed the warnings. They didn’t read the signs or turn and repent of the evil that broke God’s heart.

One day, we’re going to be caught as equally unaware if we do not fix our eye on Jesus and turn from our personal sin and national sin to Him. There is still time to seek Him and know Him. He is patient, waiting, because He takes no pleasure in destruction, even of the wicked.

But He will not always strive with us when we are bent on evil. And if ever the world stood on the brink of evil, it is now. It is time to turn away from the things Paul described, the personal, terrible attitudes and actions that break God’s heart–those “terrible times” that are coming or are now here–and repent. Return to the One who is Truth. Before it is too late.

~Selah