One
of the wonderful things about God's Word is that it is ever applicable. Not
only are the promises and commands relevant to every generation, but so also
are the many detail-rich stories. Because God's Word is alive, a story that
took place several thousand years ago can be relevant to our lives today. For
this reason, the scriptures often admonish us to consider the things that have
happened to God's people in the past, as a means of deciding our course of
action in the present.
The
above phrase, found In Luke 17:26 and Matthew 24:37, is one example of God
using stories from the past to tell us how to act in the present, and prepare
for the future. In this discourse, Jesus is instructing His followers on what
to expect in days yet to come -as well as telling them what they will need to
do to avoid certain judgement. He likens future days to the days just before
the great flood, and the days just prior to the destruction of Sodom and
Gomorrah.
Though there were numerous similarities between these two times, Jesus was capitalising on one key element in both eras: the fact that the majority of people living had no idea that the judgement was coming, until it was too late. And with regard to this fact, He said, “So shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Knowing that this is how it shall be in the future, how should we use this knowledge to prepare ourselves?
In Luke 17:32 is our first clue to answering this question. Here Jesus instructs us to, “Remember Lot's wife.” This statement refers to her looking back to her home in Sodom (Even though the angel had specifically warned them, “Do not look back!”) and promptly becoming a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:17,26) As always, it is not the letter of the law, but the spirit which “gives life.” The command not to look back was not so much a matter of concern for her eyes, but her heart. The reason Lot's wife looked back was because her heart was still in Sodom - where her home, extended family, friends, and life were.
In Colossians 3:1, Paul gave us the following admonition: “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.” What Jesus was telling us was not to let the world gain such a place in our hearts that it would cause us to “look back” longingly for it when Jesus asks us to “Come out” to meet Him. (Matthew 25:6, 2 Corinthians 6:17).
The
end will indeed be “Just as it was in the days of Noah.” However, the question remains - will we be
those who were unsuspectingly swept away by the coming judgement, or those who
were miraculously protected and delivered from that judgement? As he has done
many times in the past, God has chosen to tell us what will happen in the
future, so we would be among those delivered. Now it is our turn to heed his warnings
and respond in faith.