As it was in Noah's Day.....the Wayfarer 7/20/14

“As it was in Noah’s Day…”

7/20/14

“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be”

(Matthew 24:37)

These days, I find it hard to stay out of the book of Matthew. It contains so much wisdom, so many warnings, gives so many answers to the questions of our time. Before I go into today’s message and the scripture in Matthew, however, we need to go back to the same source from which Jesus gave us his warning of things yet to come.

“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he is also flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 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. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

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.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God, And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth.

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them: and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”

(Genesis 6:1-13)

The Sons of God referred to here are the descendants of Seth, Adam’s son.

These were considered Godly in that they were taught and lived in the ways proscribed for them by God and their father. 

The daughters of men were the descendants of Cain, definitely not to be considered Godly, as they were also brought up in the ways of their father who had murdered his own brother.

This intermarriage between the two families produced a violent and ungodly race who evidenced no respect for God or his laws, and whose thoughts and actions were continually evil.

Their imaginings (inventions) were also nothing but evil, looking to violence and the means to better kill each other among other things. (Sound familiar?) God was sorry that He even made man and was at the point of destroying all of his creations. 

Noah, however, found grace in God’s eyes and we were given another chance to prove ourselves worthy of the gift of life given us! 

The problem is what was done with that second chance, and what is still being done with it.

What have we learned from Noah?  What have we learned over
 all the centuries?  Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 3:15:

“That which hath been is now, and that which is to be hath already been: and God requireth that which is past.”

Despite all the great learning and knowledge that we accumulated over the years, we have not escaped the evil that is born with us into the world. That is why we see all the problems we find today, that is why evil seemingly triumphs around us. The earth once again is filled with violence, and corruption.

There is nothing new in today’s society. There is no difference in the minds and hearts of those with whom we share the planet, and those with whom Noah shared the planet.

We have come a long way since the time of Noah, but we haven’t come far enough to escape the judgment of our Creator! Mankind will keep making the same mistakes over and over until the final days arrive and we have to face the judgment of that same Creator.

Back to Matthew 24, where we once again find Jesus teaching those closest to Him, the disciples who have asked him when the things that Jesus has been prophesying would come to pass.

“And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?  And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

(Matthew 24:3-14)

I look around me at the world today, and I see a constant deluge of news stories about wars all over the world, earthquakes and the damage done by them, again all over the world, flooding, famine and threat of famine to come, the invasion of foreign insects into new areas never seeing them before, and I see the beginning of sorrows

 We have seen false prophets and false prophesy increase in number, and increase in numbers fooled by them.

 The last decade has been particularly troubling. The spread of these things is evident in every paper, on the net, on the news, even on entertainment media such as the history channel.

 I won’t bother to enumerate them as I give them no credence whatsoever, except in reference to the prophesy, by Christ, that we would see them.

 From Heaven’s Gate, to the so called Mayan doomsday prophesy, our airwaves and society is being bombarded with these things that do indeed trouble many, and mislead many.

Remember that Jesus said not to be troubled by these things.   We are only beginning to see the betrayal and persecution that was prophesied,

 Remember that Jesus said, the end is not yet! 

 I also see that the love of God evidenced in man seems to retreat daily to be replaced by hatred and malice toward each other.

 Jesus said that he who shall endure, continue in God’s love, and continue teaching the same, shall be saved.

 It is paramount that we not get discouraged and allow what transpires around us to take that love from our heart.

 It is that love that makes life worthwhile, and that gives us the hope through the resurrection yet to come. Jesus doesn’t finish his lesson here though, He continues:

“When ye shall see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, SPOKEN OF BY Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand.) Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in winter, neither on the Sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no nor ever shall be. And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is there will the eagles be gathered together.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power, and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Now learn a parable of The fig tree,; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

For as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah 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.

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 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 hi house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

(Matthew 24:15-51)

I realize that this last section of scripture was a very large bite to chew on all at once, But there is no place to separate the meat of this prophesy.

 These things are yet to come, and in the opinion of this sinner saved by grace getting very near.

Jesus took great pains to tell us that no man would know the day or hour that all would take place.

 He gives us a warning that it is coming and that we need to be prepared for it.

 The final parable with which I leave this dissertation is an admonition to be constantly watchful and aware of our actions. 

If we would be his servants, we need to continue to teach and preach until we are no longer alive, or able to do so. 

We need to live the love that has been given us despite any and all persecutions.

 The things we often see as a major problem in our lives becomes miniscule when placed alongside the things we are told to expect to come.

 Our individual troubles are easily overcome through prayer and by the love given us by Jesus

 It is our duty to share that love with others, and to help them to find that same love, forgiveness and intercession to the Father

I leave you here with the knowledge that in the times to come, there will be much trouble, pain and suffering.

I leave you also with the knowledge that we have the ability to overcome these things through the love of my Savior, and I look forward to the day when all these things are past and I am able to stand in the perfect light of His love knowing that He overcame sin, iniquity and wickedness and that it will no longer exist.

I salute you with the love of all my brethren, and sisters given by Christ Jesus, to this sinner saved by grace.

In Jesus name,

Amen and Amen,

 Even So; Come, Lord Jesus!

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

the Wayfarer