"The Day of Noah and The Day of the Lord"

by Pastor Ron Vandermey on 11/29/12
www.mybethanybible.org

Matthew 24:36-44: But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

The disciples had begun this chapter with questions for Jesus before He departed. Basically, they wanted to know the exact day He would return. Jesus knew that if people knew the exact day that they would wait until that day to start doing the work of the Lord. Recently a young college aged student came over for dinner, and in the conversation asked for some advice about a term paper in American Constitutional History. My first question was: When is it due? The response: Tomorrow morning. That is exactly what Jesus did not want from believers. Christ is looking for us to be faithful, watchful, expectant and prepared for the Lord to return.

The days of Noah were similar to the day when Christ will return. In the days preceding the flood men lived carelessly and self-indulgently. Corruption and violence filled the earth. God's message through Noah was spurned as an idle tale. While insensible to their danger the flood came and destroyed them all. So it will be at the Lord's coming. The warnings are all there, but still the people seek to find answers in their own wisdom. The suddenness is emphasized by Christ in these words.

People disagree as to what is meant by the phrases in verses 40-41: "one taken, one left." Some say that the one taken goes to heaven, and the one left will be judged. However, the same word is found in verse 39, and the ones taken in the flood were taken to judgment. Noah was left with his family. Thus, in the second coming those who will die when Christ returns are taken in judgment, and those who are believers will be left for the Kingdom.

The thrust of Jesus' instruction is that His return will be at an unknown moment. The world is set with a warning. No one can know beforehand just when the Son of Man will return. It will behoove all, therefore, who live in that day of trial to be ever watching lest He come as a thief in the night.