36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 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; 39 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. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”
“The uncertainty of the time of Christ’s coming, is, to those who are watchful, a savour of life to life, and makes them more watchful; but to those who are careless, it is a savour of death to death, and makes them more careless.” Matthew Henry
One can only imagine the jeers, abuses and slights Noah received as he worked on his God given calling of building an ark prior to the universal deluge by God’s command. Although God will mercifully contend for a long time with man’s choice of depravity, He will not always contend. The unbelief of mankind will not make God’s threats of no effect. Surely Noah’s onlookers had to have been scratching their heads over this boat builder’s actions. More than likely, no rain had occurred on the earth and they were certainly not near the beach. They had to be thinking he had lost his mind and all the while he warned them of the impending doom. Yet no one turned. Then the rain came. And, Scripture states, “Every living thing that moved on the earth perished” (Genesis 7:21A). The writer of Hebrews adds the following insight regarding Noah:
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Heb 11:7 (NIV)
Noah was righteous because he believed God and in holy fear obeyed God’s command to build the ark. We act on what we believe. In so doing, he saved his family as well. God always maintains a remnant – hallelujah! Interestingly, Luke describes another example of the limit to God’s forbearance regarding man’s sins in the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and gives us fair warning as well:
28 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.” 30 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot's wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” Luke 17:28-35 (NIV)
Heads-up – when we remain oblivious to God’s ways, hardened, indifferent, materialistic, and self-indulgent we are not prepared for God’s ultimate judgment (to say the least!). Confidence and sensuality are likely to be extremely epidemic in the latter days (sounds a lot like our times). The sensual and worldly are so engrossed and preoccupied with fleshly lusts and matters – so entirely set on the delights of the senses - they have no regard for the Word of God and sadly, their confidence of peace and safety will end in their ruin and destruction. Careless, confident and sensual, they refuse to heed the call of repentance from a long suffering God – choosing rather to blind their own eyes and stop up their ears to the Truth. They were so taken by the things seen they had neither time nor heart to mind the things unseen for which they were repeatedly warned. May that not be our case as well. The Day of Judgment is never further off for men’s putting it off yet they remained clueless and did not realize it until it was too late to prevent their destruction. Judgments are most terrible and amazing to those secure in their own flesh.
“He who does not prepare for death is more than an ordinary fool, he is a madman...Be ready, servant of Christ, for thy Master comes on a sudden, when an ungodly world least expect Him. See to it that thou be faithful in His work, for the grave shall soon be digged for thee. Be ready, parents, see that your children are brought up in the fear of God, for they must soon be orphans; be ready, men of business, take care that your affairs are correct, and that you serve God with all your hearts, for the days of your terrestrial service will soon be ended, and you will be called to give account for the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or whether they be evil. May we all prepare for the tribunal of the great King with a care which shall be rewarded with the gracious commendation, ‘Well don, good and faithful servant’.” Charles H. Spurgeon