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10. The Salvation of the Believers (Matthew 24:37-41)
MATTHEW 24:37-41
37 As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, 39 and they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left; 41 two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left. (Luke 17:35)
Shortly before the flood, God ordered Noah to make the ark, which was salvation for him and his family. His friends mocked him and considered him a fool, until they drowned in the flood of God's wrath. Yet, Noah believed in the revelation of God and obeyed Him in spite of the mockers, and he and his family were saved. Christ is the ark of our salvation. He is the vessel that keeps us afloat. Accept Him in His new covenant so that you can live with Him forever even if this world passes away.
Eating and drinking are necessary to the preservation of man's life. Marrying and giving in marriage are necessary to the preservation of mankind. But these lawful things can cause problems if done unlawfully. In Noah's day, people were entirely caught up in the pursuit of pleasure. They were so intent upon the world and the flesh, that they ignored fair warning, even when destruction was at the door. They were eating and drinking, when they should have been repenting and praying. God used Noah to call people to repent but they rejected His message. This message was for them, as it was for Israel afterwards, but they remained spiritually superficial, lost and unforgiven (Isaiah 22:12, 14).
We can see in the history of mankind, that before the passing away of each civilization, the people of the civilization became corrupt and superficial. Their focus was pleasure, and they debased themselves and others without shame, even in the knowledge of their coming destruction. When Jesus described people eating, drinking, and marrying He didn't mean that these things were sinful, but that people were doing all of that without God, and without any thought. It is because of their indifference and unbelief that they are judged.
False righteousness will not save you from the coming judgment. It is only faith in your Savior, Jesus, that can save you. Christ will divide mankind into two groups at His Second Coming: those who know Him personally as Redeemer, and those who don't. Those that know and belong to Him are filled with His Spirit and will be accepted and taken home at the last hour.
Those who belong to Christ will be "caught up" in the clouds when He comes again. They will ascend to heaven as their Lord has already ascended. They are not worthy of this ascension, but the justification of the Lord has changed them and made them worthy. Are you already one with Christ in spirit? Do you know that the Lord Himself longs to receive you?
Christ did not tell believers in advance about the hour of His coming. He wants them to be prepared to receive Him at any time, whether in the daytime or at night.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we glorify You because Your beloved Son gives to us a living hope. Keep us away from superficiality and vain imaginations. Wipe away all of our sins and establish us in Your saving Son that he will deliver us from the hour of judgment and preserve us for Himself.
QUESTION:
- How will Christ come back again to our world, and what will happen to His beloved ones?