THINGS AS USUAL

" 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. (Mat 24:38-39)

JESUS AFFIRMED THAT WHEN HE RETURNED, men would be conducting their affairs just as they were when the flood came rushing in upon the world of the ungodly of Noah's day. One hundred and twenty years after God had warned Noah of the impending destruction of the world by a flood, an unequaled cataclysmic event occurred in nature. "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights." (Gen 7:11-12). I do not know the extent of the world's knowledge of the coming flood. Noah is called "a preacher of righteousness"(2 Pet 2:5). Much of his testimony no doubt preceded the building of the ark, which was itself a solemn declaration that the world had been condemned by God. Well over a century, therefore – perhaps even two or three centuries – the world of the ungodly had some warning of God's wrath. Yet, it remained wholly unaffected. Noah walked with God before the birth of his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Gen 6:9-10). God spoke to him concerning the destruction of that world, telling him to build an ark. This took place when he was about 480 years of age, for the flood came one hundred and twenty years later, when Noah was six hundred years old (Gen 7:6). Thus, his testimony could well have extended over a period of at least200-300 years.

UP UNTIL THE VERY DAY the flood came, the world conducted its business as usual. Matthew says they "were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" right up to the day Noah entered the ark. Luke says the same thing (Luke 17:27). Luke also records an elaboration of Jesus, who likened His return to the day Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed" (Luke 17:28-30). In the flood and the destruction of Sodom, things continued as usual up to the very end. There was no serious thought about the end of all things. The people did not alter their conduct one whit, but maintained their usual manner of life, blissfully unaware they were soon to be destroyed. Beasts of the earth can sense a storm. Wild animals can detect the presence of a foe. But sin had so dulled the conscience of the people of Noah and Lot's days that they did not break the monotony of life for a single moment, even though destruction was near.

JESUS AFFIRMED THAT IS PRECISELY HOW it will be when He returns to conclude the history of the world. That conclusion will include the punishment of the ungodly, who will be "punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power" (2 Thess 1:9). Their destruction will surpass that of "the world of the ungodly" of Noah's day (2 Pet 2:5). It will dwarf the punishment of the men of Sodom who "were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly" (Gen 13:13).

JUST AS THERE WERE indicators of the coming destruction of the world and Sodom and Gomorrah, so the coming of the Lord will be attended by certain signs. Some of them include false prophets, the love of many waxing cold, strong deception, and the shaking of powers (Matt 24:11-12,29). Luke mentions signs in the sun, moon and stars, distress of nations, perplexity, men's hearts failing them for fear (Lk 21:25-26). Still, multitudes will continue to live their lives as usual – just as though nothing of any consequence was on the horizon.

WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME of all kinds of signs – indications that something of staggering proportions is around the corner. There are wars and national conflicts, growing hostility in the middle East, and terrorist activity. All manners of diseases are breaking out that were once thought to have been conquered. Even the lowly mosquito is spreading deadly disease through the country, Together with birds and swine. Violent crime is on the increase, abortion has become a burgeoning industry, and immorality is like a raging fire that is out of control. Corruption has been discovered in business and politics at staggering levels. Add to that the remarkable deterioration of spiritual life, and the replacement of church life with entertainment, and you have a time that should be most sobering. It should be a time when souls are waking up, taking personal inventory, and calling upon the name of the Lord.

BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING. Instead, things are moving along as usual. People are buying and selling, planting and building. Young people continue to do young things, and older people continue to do older things. Judging from the state of society in our country, you would think nothing at all was on the horizon. Things are continuing as usual. But we must not be lulled to sleep by these conditions. These are NOT normal times. The coming of the Lord IS drawing near. This is NOT the time to live as usual, as in the days of Noah and the days of Lot. It is a day that calls for alertness, vigilance, and an increase in zeal and commitment to the Lord.

– Given O. Blakely