What Does the Future Hold?

What does the immediate future hold for all of us? Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1, “...in the last days perilous times shall come.” He describes a time of mass corruption and a breakdown of law and tradition. Times of danger, of persecution and of trial. Truly these are desperate times but the party continues in the world as they appear to be oblivious to the judgment coming upon us. The Bible tells us that as it was in Noah's time so shall it be at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matt. 24:38, “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,”

In spite of Noah's warning, this verse describes the reckless way that the people went on their usual course, pursuing their pleasures with doom hanging over them. Life continued as though nothing was amiss. Because of sin and disobedience, the world was on a collision course with the judgment of God. God gave them warning and opportunity to repent but they laughed at the message and mocked the messenger. For one hundred and twenty years God left the door of redemption open but when time (God's time) was up, He closed the door to salvation.

Matt. 24:39, “And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

The people of Noah's day “knew not until the flood came.” They did not recognize the signs of the coming judgment. Their attention was upon their own carnal pleasures. Flesh was the driving force in their lives rather than care of the soul.

The Lord Jesus assures us that similar recklessness and unbelief will be found at his coming. We are living in the day that Jesus talked about. The conditions in our world parallel those of Noah's time. The general attitude toward the last days message is that of unbelief and a false security that refuses to heed any warning. Life continues as though nothing is amiss. Mankind continues to seek his way of life which is focused on selfish, carnal desires. He lives in pursuit of another enticement that will thrill the senses. All he sees is the momentary pleasure, the temporary highs. He doesn't see that he is sowing carnal seeds that will be brought into judgment. Our world is on a collision course with the judgment of God. The whole of mankind is reaping the seeds of sin.

Noah's ark was set in the middle of their daily lives. You might say it was like an elephant in the room. How could they walk around it everyday and still ignore the message of God. It sat before them as visual reminder that God's judgment was coming. They looked at Noah working every day but refused the message of salvation. Why did they do that? Because they were driven by the temporary pleasures of this life. They could not accept that anything could change what they perceived to be in their future. God made believers out of them but it was too late when it started to rain. The door to their salvation had been shut by the hand of God. No one could open it.

Just as God brought judgment in Noah's generation, He is in the process of doing the same in our world. The greatest failure of a man is to exclude God from his life. You can allow what is to come to do the work of conviction and repentance to accepting Jesus in salvation. Or, you can continue in your own way, failing to heed God's warning, and suffer the same destruction of Noah's day. Judgment is upon us. We will reap what we have sown. Hear Jesus' voice today, repent and be saved!!!