Scripture to Read: Luke 17:26–27
Jesus began to use illustrations that the disciples would understand, for they were stories out of the Old Testament. The disciples had been taught these stories from childhood, so no doubt, as Jesus shared these stories, the disciples knew exactly what Jesus was saying. We read in Luke 17:26–27, “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” Jesus began by going all the way back to Noah and the flood. The disciples knew that it took Noah and his family, and most assuredly others who helped, around 50 to 75 years to build the ark (https://answersingenesis.org/bible-timeline/how-long-did-it-take-for-noah-to-build-the-ark/) and during that time, Noah also preached about the coming flood, for God calls Noah “a preacher of righteousness” in 2 Peter 2:5. Not only would the ark have been an obvious sign of the coming flood, but God also used Noah to forewarn the people of that day. Just as most people today do not believe Jesus is coming back at all, let alone soon, the people of Noah’s day did not know when the flood would happen. But there is no doubt that they were informed that a flood was coming. People today need to hear the Gospel of Christ and know that He is coming again. Like Noah, we must preach God’s righteousness through Christ.
Challenge & Application
How does the story of Noah relate to the return of Christ?
How are you being like Noah and telling others of their need to surrender to Christ before it’s too late?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!