LESSONS from the days of Noah and Lot - Luke 17:26-30 (1)

‘’And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.’’ (Luke 17:26-27)

‘’ likewise also in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.’’ (Luke 17:28-30).

The days of Noah refer to the humans. like you and I, who lived in the first world which God destroyed on account of sin. They were sinners like you and I who inherited the sin nature and the penalties of sin - physical death, spiritual death and eternal death - from Adam and Eve.

Being natural sinners, they lived rebellious lives contrary to God’s will for them as everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Within ten generations from Adam to Noah, sin had exploded to such alarming and frightening proportions that God regretted that he had made man.

God looked upon the earth and saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was continuously filled with all manner of evil.

One of the sins specifically mentioned was sexual perversion (Genesis 6:4). The daughters of men were having sexual affairs with fallen angelic beings and having offspring. Likewise at Sodom & Gomorrah, homosexuality also known as Sodomy was rampant.

In this Last Day, sexual perversions are rampant occurring in many forms - oral sex, anal sex, masturbation, menstrual sex, sex with a toy, bestial sex, pornography, vibrator sex, ungodly sexual styles etc. On the net today, perversions such as oral sex is openly and shamelessly discussed and celebrated in relationship forums even those dominated by Christian believers.

The earth in Noah’s day was corrupt and was filled with violence as all flesh had corrupted their ways on earth. Very few men such as Noah and Enoch were perfect before God, walking with Him. Noah was described as a just and perfect man who walked with God. To walk with God means to have a close and intimate personal relationship and fellowship with Him. It is a consecrated relationship based on obedience to God, and holy and righteous living.

Based on the alarming levels of sin, corruption and violence on earth which grieved God in His heart, God took a decision to destroy the earth along with all humans and the beasts, as well as the creeping and the flying animals.

He directed Noah to build an Ark of salvation known as Noah’s Ark to rescue the repentant and some animals from the impending destruction. God also informed Noah that He would send a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all living beings and things.

Men born in sin are born spiritually dead and alienated from God. Man is a soul with a body and a spirit. The body of man will separate from his spirit at physical death. While the mortal body returns to dust in the grave, his immortal soul and spirit would return to God to render an account of what was done in the body (Genesis 12:7) (Hebrews 9:27).

If a man dies in sin without repentance and conversion, his soul would not be admitted into eternity in Heaven where God lives, which means he would spend his eternity in eternal Hell. A man who dies in sin without repentance on God’s terms is an unclean person before God and nothing unclean can enter into a holy Heaven where a Holy God resides.

Reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ is the only solution to the alienation which sin created. Jesus is the eternal life which cancels eternal death. Therefore, a relationship with Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary to avoid the penalties of sin inherited through Adam.

The above stated facts indicate that the life of a man does not end on earth but continues into eternity, in Heaven or Hell based on his freewill choice.Those who perished in the days of Noah and Lot were non-challant regarding spiritual matters that determine their destination in eternity.

God warned them about the impending destruction, calling for repentance. He had prepared an Ark of salvation for their rescue. The calls and warning delivered to them through Noah were totally ignored.
They were more interested in their temporal, perishable, social and materialist pursuits than the spiritual - repentance and salvation - that would determine their eternity.

They were more interested and totally preoccupied with earthly matters – the socials and the material - the vanities, the cares and the affairs of this temporary world, forgetting that man brought nothing into the world and shall depart it with nothing.

They also failed to realize that a man born in sin is already alienated from God and if he dies in sin without repentance, he dies eternally separated from God.They failed to realize that the salvation of the soul of man is the greatest riches any man can acquire – imperishable riches that endure forever.

Rather than first secure the eternal destination of their immortal souls through repentance and salvation, their hearts were totally engrossed with perishable earthly and fleshly desires, ‘what shall we eat? ‘What shall we drink? ‘Whom shall we marry? ‘Where shall we build? ‘’What clothes shall we wear? ‘’What can we buy and sell?’’

They lived their lives carelessly as if life on earth continues forever and as if material and social pursuits are the chief end in life. They traded away their eternal abode with God for mundane, ephemeral values, for fleshly gratifications and they perished, eternally separated from God, despite being warned.
They died eternally, forever separated from God, spending their eternity in eternal Hell, in indescribable and unbearable pain and sorrow...an everlasting tragedy!

As it was in the days of Noah - Luke 17:26-30

The Christian race to eternity is likened to a war and the Christian is a soldier on the battle field. He is at war with spiritual forces, not flesh and blood (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) and this is why the Bible advises believers to put on the whole armour of God in order to be able to stand (Ephesians 6:10-18).

The Devil will do anything to distract a Christian from his heavenly pursuit, to lose his focus, to run after shadows and eventually to be lost. The Scriptures say that at the coming of the Lord, many shall be caught unawares, and shall be left behind to their everlasting regrets and sorrow. May this not be our lot in the name of Jesus Christ. 

If a Christian shall be left behind, it may not be by reason of deliberate sins but because he allowed himself to become entangled or over involved with the affairs of this life –the cares of the world.

2 Timothy 2:4 says,

‘’No man that warreth entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him as a soldier.’’

Matthew 13:22 says,

‘’he that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the world and he became unfruitful.’’

The Scriptures above refer to believers in the family of God but have lost their focus and have entangled themselves with the vanities of this life. Jesus made two powerful, prophetic but tragic statements in the Scriptures in Luke 17:26 -30 as follows:

‘’And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.’’ (Luke 17:26-27)

‘’ likewise also in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.’’ (Luke 17:28-30).

These statements refer to both believers and unbelievers and there are several lessons to learn from them. The tragedy of these statements is the prophetic declaration that the events of the days of Noah which led to the destruction of many will be repeated in this Last Day. 

Will you be a victim as in the days of Noah?

There is no sin in eating and drinking or in marrying and giving in marriage. There is no sin in building houses and planting vineyards or buying and selling. But these are earthly matters that have no eternal values and many have become engrossed and totally preoccupied with them as if that is the chief end in life.

The undoing of the men who lived in the days of Noah and Lot was forgetting and ignoring spiritual values. They ignored and rejected God’s call to them for repentance and salvation. They failed to heed the prophecies that signaled the impending end that was given to warn them to make the right preparations for eternity. 

They failed to discern the signs of their times and did not know the time of their visitation. As a result, the 40 day flood came suddenly and as many that were not in the Ark of salvation (Noah’s Ark) perished in the floods. Only 8 persons were saved from that destruction of the world of Noah.

Likewise in the days of Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah, men were busily involved in materialistic pursuits that they neglected the spiritual pursuit to their eternal peril. They had no time for messages of repentance and salvation and preparation for eternity. 

They were so engrossed and occupied with earthly and material matters that they thought life on earth would be forever. When judgment came, it caught them unawares as they were not prepared. Only 3 persons were saved from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Same applies today...

Many in this Last Day are too busy with their work, business, pleasures and plans that benefits the mortal body that will perish in the dust, but are ignoring and having no time for the things of the spirit that will benefit their immortal soul which will face judgment and will go into eternity. 

The tragic statement, ‘’as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man’’ is repeating itself. Will you be a victim as in the days of Noah? What are the lessons we can learn to avoid falling victim?

How Many Births Have You Experienced?

In other words, how many times have you been born?

 

There are two births which every man born of a woman should experience. They are the first or natural birth and the second or spiritual birth.

The first or natural birth occurred by the will of our parents. That is, the natural birth was by the will of man, and the will of the flesh. The natural birth is that which brought us into the world and makes us members of a human family.

The first or natural birth makes you and I a sinner and this birth qualifies man for two types of death – the physical or natural death and the second or eternal death. The physical or natural death applies to all men who must return to the dust irrespective of having first or second birth (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Hebrews 9:27 says, ‘’ it is appointed to all men to die once and after death is judgment.’’

The second or eternal death is an eternal separation from God. Those who experience the second death are those who die in sin without repentance; who rejected God’s offer of salvation. Their eternal abode is Hell, the place of eternal torment and punishment and total hopelessness.

The second or spiritual birth is by the will of God, not the will of our parents.  John 1:13 says, ‘’ which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’’

The second birth makes you a child of God and member of the family of God. The second birth makes you a saint in the eyes of God.  The second birth is for those who receive salvation through Jesus Christ and have been empowered to become the sons of God. 

John 1:12 says,

‘’ but as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.’’

They are the ones who have been resurrected from spiritual death to life and are children of a heavenly father. John 3:3 says, ‘’…verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’’

For those who have the second birth, who are born-again, the second or eternal death has no power over them. Revelations 20:6 says, ‘’blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power.’’

The second birth reconciles man back to God and reconnects his spirit to God. Without the second birth, men will die in sin and end up in eternal Hell because nothing unclean can inherit the Kingdom of God.

For those who have been born only once via the natural birth and who miss the second birth, they will experience two kinds of death –the physical and the eternal death. Their physical death will be their door to eternal death. Those who have the two births will experience only one death – the physical death which will be their door to eternity with Christ.

The second birth involves a moral and a spiritual change; a change of heart that transforms one into a new creature (John 3:3) (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is a change of masters that adopts one from the satanic family into the family of God. 

It is a consecration of the body, soul and spirit of man to serve God and holiness rather than Satan and sin (Romans 8:1-13). It translates a sinner from the broad way that leads to destruction to the narrow way that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

The second birth is a renewal in righteousness and true holiness; a change of favour and a new standing before God and also a change of character, state and service (Ephesians 2:1-9; 4:23-24) (Titus 3:5).

The moment one is responsible and accountable enough to recognize that he is a sinner, and he repents and believes the gospel, the moral and spiritual change will take place (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

How can we experience the Second Birth?

Ø Accept and acknowledge that you are a sinner heading to destruction (Romans 3:23) (Romans 6:23)

Ø Believe in the Lord Jesus, the Risen Christ. Confess Him as your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9-10) who alone can save

Ø Confess your sins to Jesus and ask for His mercy and forgiveness (1 John 1:9)

Ø Determine not to return to your old life of sin (Isaiah 55:7)

Ø Open the door of your heart to Jesus and allow Him to come in to dwell in it (Revelations 3:20)

Act now, the next minute may be too late. You are only one heartbeat away from eternity. Today is the day of salvation. Further delay is dangerous!

If you have taken these steps, you have been born into the family of God and the angels are rejoicing over you, celebrating your new birth (Luke 15:10). 

You are welcome into the family of God.

Quotes

Ø ‘’ Sadly, many Christian believers are secretive about their faith because of their double lifestyles. They are in ‘secret service’’ in their offices and neighborhoods like Nicodemus who was a secret disciple. They are afraid to show up publicly for Jesus.’’ (copied: Our Daily Manna, October 12, 2017)

Ø ‘’ if you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father (Matthew 10:33)

Ø ‘’ Many Christians mark their bibles, but their bibles never mark them.’’ (copied: Our Daily Manna; October 11, 2017)

Ø ‘’ Be a Man of One Book: Read the Bible! (copied: Our Daily Manna, October 10, 2017)

Ø ‘’ What is right for one soul may not be right for another. It may mean having to stand on your own and do things that are strange in the eyes of others. But do not be daunted. Do whatever it is because you know within that it is right for you – Eileen Caddy

Ø ‘’Be yourself and do not struggle to be someone else. The elephant does not need to envy the lion because its purpose is different and that makes everyone unique. Stand on your own and do things that you believe are right even if they are strange to others (copied: Our Daily Manna; October 8, 2017).

Ø ‘’it is not possible to feed lambs and catch fish at the same time. The man who desires to be ahead of others must single out his specialty (copied: Our Daily Manna; October 8, 2017)

Ø ‘’One great cause of failure in life generally is lack of concentration.’’ (Andrew Carnegie)

Ø ‘’ the Me I see, is the Me I will become.’’  (copied: Our Daily Manna; October 1, 2017).

Ø ‘’ Walk in my shoes, see what I see and feel what I feel, then you will understand why I do what I do. Until then, do not judge me. (Anonymous)

Ø ‘’ The strongest are not those who show strength in front of the world but those who fight and win battles that others do not know anything about.’’  – Jonathan Hamisch

Have you believed another gospel?

Have You Believed Another Gospel?

The central theme of the gospel is Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection for the sins of men. Placing complete trust in Christ’s atoning death is the only way to eternity in Heaven. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6) (Acts 4:12). Trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation is what the Bible teaches.

·        Have you believed another gospel that deceives?

Another gospel deceives. Many are blinded by vain teachings that have no real value, worthless and empty. The only message of real value is that salvation comes by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:4) (Ephesians 5:6). The gospel of Christ is the only soul-saving system that reveals a Saviour.

·        Have you believed another gospel that damns?

Those who believe another gospel shall be punished with everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)

·        Have you believed another gospel that perverts God’s Word?

Those who preach another gospel and another Jesus, which deny God’s Word; that denies the death, burial and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ; that deny the virgin birth and the deity of Christ; that deny the existence of a Hell and a Heaven are accursed persons heading for destruction (Galatians 1:7-8,11).

The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation unto everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). It teaches that one can be forgiven if he believes God’s Word and places complete trust in Christ’s atoning death.

Romans 10:9-10 says,

‘’ if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thy heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart, man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.’’

Have you believed another gospel?