As In the Days

“It is safe to say that the pleasurable anticipation of the better things to come has almost died out in the church of Christ. It is a great temptation to take the shallow view that we do not need any heaven promised for tomorrow because we are so well situated here and now.” - A.W. Tozer

God’s cataclysmic judgment fell upon Noah’s world due to systemic corruption and incessant violence. The ongoing corruption fostered conflict which triggered outrageous violence.

“Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. . . So God said to Noah, 'I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth?'" (Genesis 6:11,13a)

Curiously, Jesus paints a very different, rather normal, even party-like picture when he recounts the story.

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark.” (Matthew 24:37-39)

Apparently, corruption and violence had become so commonplace, the people of Noah’s world partied on unfazed. Our challenge is to live like Noah, aware of the world’s problems but rising above the negative chatter. Like Noah we must trust, obey, serve, and worship God. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be . . .