June 18th, 2017

Luke 17:26-33 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”
 
PEOPLE have little regard for Jesus’ judgment description here. How do I know? Look to the world, and you will see great indifference and arrogant opposition to God’s laws and his ways to a living relationship with him. Sadly, there is little to no desire, even in many churches, to know our Creator’s warnings and his promises.
    What, then, is Jesus warning and promising here? His message remains constant: 1) Know everyone has sinned and is unworthy to be with the Father. 2) Know the way to God’s eternal heaven. 3) Be prepared for God’s judgment of your soul.
    He delivers his warning here with a reminder of the most severe act of God’s judgment in human history. Surprisingly, the story of Noah, the ark and God’s destruction of all life in the world is one of the first stories children hear. Our 2-year-old grandson, for example, knows all about the ark and the animals, the rainbow and the good man Noah. One day I hope he will understand how the story declares sin’s deadly cost. And then I pray he will learn of God’s extraordinary grace to save him as God saved Noah and his family.
    This is why we have Noah’s and Lot’s stories (See Genesis 6-9 and 19, respectively). Jesus pointed to God’s judgment in Noah’s and Lot’s times to declare sin is deadly. As then, God’s judgment will once again come swiftly. It will be sure and deadly to those who are unprepared. Yes, know we are all born in need of salvation. Romans 3:10-11 As it is written, “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.”  Believe God’s promise of salvation. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
    Call to Jesus. And you will be prepared for God’s sudden, sure judgment. “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2) Pray for those who are unprepared. Tell them the gospel truth. Warn others as Jesus has warned you. Teach them of sin. Teach them of the Savior. Help them, too, to be ready.
 
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your warnings, your teachings and your salvation. I pray the people of your church and of your world will regard your Word with great intent and desire to know and live for you. Amen.