And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 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. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 11: 17-26-30, NKJV.
Dear God, there is a message in here for all of us. Please help us to hear what that message is. When we hear, help us to apply it. This we ask in the glorious name of our Savior and Creator, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today we look at another group of signs. Jesus is comparing life as it was in two periods of earth’s history, with what life will be like “when the Son of Man is revealed.” Let us look at the signs He is calling our attention to, in order to better hear what He is saying to us, today. What was life like “in the days of Noah” and “in the days of Lot[?]”
Jesus says, “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark[.]” The obvious question is: “What is wrong with eating, drinking, getting married, and being “given in marriage[?]” Perhaps we can get an idea of what Jesus is saying to us, by going to another part of Scripture where some of these activities are mentioned.
“But instead, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine: ‘ “ Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” ‘ ” (Isaiah 22: 13)! The conjunction “But,” tells us that the idea following, is not in accordance with the idea that went before. That is true. If we should go to the beginning of chapter 22 of Isaiah, and even beyond, we find that YHWH was sending messages to His people, through the prophets. He was warning them of impending doom, in the hope that they would repent, and look to Him for deliverance. Instead, we find them making provision to “have a good time.”
Is this not in accordance with the prevailing attitude of our generation? Invite someone to a religious meeting, and notice their reaction. Many will find it difficult to make the time to attend. On the other hand, invite them to a party, and all concerns for time is gone. This is not only the attitude “in the world.” This condition also exists in the church. Timothy, describing the “last days,” had this to say: “But know this, that in the last days . . . men will be . . . lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3: 1, 2, 4b).
The attitude was, back then, and is, in our day, “let tomorrow take care of itself; today we will have fun!” Have you ever warned someone about a dangerous habit, only to have them respond: “You have to die from something!” Or, “Yeah, it may kill me, but, ‘Way to go!’ ” In other words, “ Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” More important considerations, such as marriage, are given the same Laissez-faire attitude, “Let us do as we please! If this one does not work out, I can get married again! What is the big deal?” A dangerous “end of the time” attitude that has become quite prevalent!
“Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built[“]. “Likewise,” in other words, “the same attitude prevailed in the days of Lot.” In our preaching, we tend to interject the message of the sexual lifestyle that was prevalent in Sodom at the time that it was destroyed, to this portion of Scripture. For some reason, the Savior did not mention it. That does not mean He approved of it. Could it be, He saw, that if we got stuck on only one concern, we will begin to feel that our indifferent attitude, in the face of His soon coming, is all right? That even though Jesus is showing us, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that He is about to return, and is warning us, and encouraging us to repent, and turn to Him, we have insisted to go on with “Business as usual?”
Is it “Because [we are saying], ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that [we] are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—” that God wants us to look at our own condition first, and then, by His grace, heed His call: “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3: 17, 18, emphasis supplied)? Then, and only then, will we be adequately equipped, to call others to repentance.
Let us not lose sight of the fact, that their indifference persisted, “until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” And “on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.”
“Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” May God help you and me to be ready, on that day!