Daniel
D. Catangay
Man can learn from two important
things in the history: first, from the good things that people did in the past
and, second, from the mistakes they committed.
There is a story written in the Bible
that must not only catch our attention but, more importantly, serve as a
warning. This happened during the time of Noah.
During Noah’s time, God saw the grave
wickedness of the people. Thus, He decided to destroy them:
“Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the
face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,
“Then the Lord saw
that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
“So the Lord
said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping things and birds of the
air, for I am sorry that I have made them’.
“And behold, I myself am bringing the flood of waters on
the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of
life; and everything that is on the earth shall die.” (Gen.
6:1,5,7,17, New King James Version)
But before God executed His punishment
on the wicked, He had given them the chance to be saved:
“Who formerly were disobedient, when once the
longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being
prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were save through water.”
(I Pt. 3:20, Ibid.)
We should take note that God did not
at once send the great flood to destroy the people of that time. He had shown
His patience by giving them the chance to be saved. This chance offered by God
lasted the whole time the ark was being prepared when, at the same time, Noah
preached God’s righteousness:
“God did not spare the ancient world, but brought the
flood on the world of godless people; the only ones he saved were Noah, who
preached righteousness, and seven other people.” (II Pt. 2:5, Today’s English
Version)
God used Noah as an instrument to
forewarn the people about the impending flood that would destroy all living
creatures. God had wanted them to turn away from their evil ways and to live a
holy life so that they would be saved. But instead of heeding the call of God,
they took it for granted. So when the great flood came, only eight persons were
saved---Noah, his wife, and his three children and their wives.
What were the people at that time
doing before the great flood came?
“They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given
in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark and the flood came and
destroyed them all.” (Lk. 17:27, New King James Version)
It is an ordinary day when the deluge
came. People ate, drank, and married. They continued living in their sinful
ways and never believed Noah’s warning. As a consequence, all those who did not
listen to and heed Noah’s admonition perished.
What
we must understand
There is something significant that we
must understand by what happened during Noah’s time. The Bible warns:
“And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in
the days of the Son of Man.” (Lk. 17:26, Ibid.)
Like what happened in the time of
Noah, on Christ’s second advent---on the day of Judgment---a
destruction is likewise sure to come. The wickedness of men that God saw in the
days of Noah is the same as what He sees with the people today. If God
destroyed the wicked then, He will do the same on Christ second coming.
The Holy Scriptures describe what will
happen on the day of Judgment:
“For they willfully overlook and forget this [fact], that
heavens [came into] existence long ago by the word of God, and an earth also
which was formed by water and by means of water.
“Through which the world that then [existed] was deluged
with water and perished.
“But by the same word the present heavens and earth have
been stored up [reserved] for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and
destruction of the ungodly people.
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, and then
the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the [material]
elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the
works that are upon it will be burned up.” (II Pt. 3:5-7, 10, Amplified Bible)
On the Day of Judgment, the earth and
everything on it as well as the heavens will be destroyed with fire. This is
the day of destruction of the ungodly.
This truth serves as a warning to all
and must not be taken for granted as people did during the time of Noah. We
must remember that those who did not listen to God’s warning perished. Whom we
should follow as good examples are Noah and his companions who were saved
because they obeyed God and did not waste the opportunity give to them.
Like Noah and his household who
prepared for the impending destruction, let us prepare for the coming of
Judgment Day.
How we
must prepare
What must we do now so that on the Day
of Judgment we will not suffer the same fate as those who were destroyed?
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour when you do not expect Him.” (Mt. 24:44, New King James
Version)
The second coming of the Lord Jesus
Christ is like the coming of the great flood in the time of Noah---unexpected.
Thus the Bible admonishes us to be prepared for that day. How then must we
prepare? The Scriptures teach us that to be prepared for that day is to be
found in peace:
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be
diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
(II Pt. 3:14, Ibid.)
This peace is found in one body:
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which
also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Col. 3:15, Ibid.)
The body being referred to is the Church
(cf. Col 1:18)---the church of Christ:
“Greet one another with a holy kiss, The churches of
Christ greet you.” (Rom. 16:16, New King James Version)
In the days of Noah, God willed that the
ark built by Noah be the refuge from the great flood. It was what people needed
then to be saved. In the Christian era, what people need to be saved from the
lake of fire is the Church. This is where we must be found on the Day of
Judgment in order not to suffer God’s punishment.
Joining the Church, which is Christ
body, therefore, is the proper way of preparing for the Day of Judgment. Why is
this so, because the Church, which is Christ body, is the one He will save:
“For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ
has authority over the church; and Christ himself is the Savior of the church,
his body.” (Eph. 5:23, Today’s English Version)
Just as the great flood during Noah’s
time came. The Day of Judgment will surely come. Because of this we must not
hesitate to join the Church of Christ---the only way appointed by God for man
to be saved.
In the same way that those who did not enter
the ark were destroyed during the great flood, those who will not be found in
the true Church will suffer a tragic fate on the Day of Judgment (cf. I Cor.
5:13).
God has given a warning---let us not be
caught unprepared. (:
NOTE:
1. Not even the relatives, friends of Noah’s family were spared from the great flood!
2. The Church of Christ now is likened to the Ark of Noah which man must enter in order to be save on the Day of Judgment...
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