Message: “Just As in the Days of Noah”
Message Text: Genesis 5:25–6:13, Luke 17:22–30
Jesus is coming again. Are you ready?
- John Parsons with the Hebrew for Christians ministry states that: Our world appears to be careening toward a crash. Most of us are troubled, if not frightened. Corruption and decay are all around us and nothing makes much sense any longer. We cannot trust our politicians. Bankers and big business are anathema. Everyone seems out of control. In short, it seems as if our entire culture and way of life [are] tottering and ready to collapse. We are confused, perplexed and feel threatened.
- Friedrich von Schiller, a leading German dramatist and poet of the 18th century, gives us this well-known aphorism: “The history of the world is the judgment of the world.”
- And our world seems does ripe for the judgment of God, and this is not the first time. Over four thousand years ago the evil intentions and wickedness of humanity brought society to the brink, and God destroyed that world system with a catastrophic flood. From a population of possibly millions of human inhabitants on the planet, God spared eight in a huge ship that took 120 years to build.
- The New Testament tells us that our planet will one day once again come under the judgment of God at the second coming of Christ, culminating ultimately on the Great Day of the LORD when this world is destroyed, not by water, but this time by fire.
- So what are we to do? Is it too simple to say that we should make sure that we are ready? If you have not yet believed in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins and received his free gift of salvation, then today is the day and now is the time.
- Luke, the evangelist and gospel writer, tells us that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be like a lightning flash. Business as usual on the planet and then the lightning flash of his arrival and then judgment.
- Many will and do scoff at such an idea. That is what scoffers do; they ridicule and parody to avoid the truth of the reality of God. But on that day everyone will know that judgment has come as the Son of Man is revealed across the sky. No matter their professed religion, or theology, or philosophy, they will know. Atheist, deist, cultist, animist, agnostic … they will know.
- There will be no doubt, no ambiguity when Jesus the Son of Man, Son of God, returns to this planet.
- So are you ready? If you have not trusted Christ, you are not ready.
- But what about Christians, believers, authentic followers of Jesus? Are you ready?
- The Apostle Paul writes: Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV).
- And Peter writes: Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace (2 Peter 3:14 ESV).
- So I am asking you, Christian, this morning, are you ready? Will our LORD find you at peace and blameless? Or have the noise and clamor of politics and the tumult and confusion of society drowned out the voice of your Sovereign LORD, and you no longer hear him speak his hope and peace and joy to you in the midst of the chaos?
So how do we live in peace in a world
that is ripe for the judgment of God?
How do we live in peace in the midst of chaos?
◼︎ First, believe God’s account of what has happened on the planet, Genesis 5:25-6:13.
◼︎ Second, believe God’s account of what is happening on the planet.
◼︎ Third, trust the plan, God’s plan that is. What will happen.
◼︎ Fourth, receive God’s peace.
- (John 3:16–17 ESV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
- (2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT) For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
- (Romans 5:1 ESV) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
◼︎ Fifth, live in the promised peace of God.
- (Romans 15:13 ESV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
- (1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV) Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- (2 Peter 3:14 ESV) And Peter writes: Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
- (John 14:27 ESV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.