Lesson
2
Mankind
Judged
III. Mankind
Judged
Today, when we look
into the sky and see the rainbow, we remember that it is God's token of His
covenant promise that He will never destroy the earth by water again.
However, the earth
will one day face the judgment of God in a frightfully different manner. It is
revealed in II Peter 3:4-7, where Peter says scoffers will say, "Where is
the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things
continue as they were from the beginning of creation. For this they willingly
are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth
standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was,
being overflowed with water, perished; but the heavens and the earth, which are
now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of
judgment and perdition of ungodly men."
Judgment is coming
upon the wicked and ungodly. And though the agent God uses will not be water,
it will be just as devastating on those who have refused to obey God.
Daniel Webster, when
Secretary of State under President Fillmore, was dining once with twenty
distinguished men at the Astor House in New York. He was unusually quiet and
his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere. To draw him out someone asked him an
unusual question, "Mr. Webster, will you tell me what was the most
important thought that ever occupied your mind?" Webster thought for a
moment, then said for all to hear, "The most important thought that ever
occupied my mind was that of my individual responsibility to God." It is
said that he talked for twenty minutes upon the subject.
Noah also felt the
same responsibility to God.
A. The Days Before
the Flood
The worldwide flood in
Noah's day was of such tremendous significance that Jesus used its lessons to
teach about His second coming. (Read Matthew 24:37-44). Notice the clear
comparisons between the world in Noah's day and today.
1. Eating and
Drinking
There is nothing wrong
with eating and drinking. These are normal pursuits of life, even though many
carry them to the extreme and make a god of their belly! (See Philippians
3:17-19.)
The carnal man is
concerned only with feeding the physical man. With the exception of Seth, there
is little mention that these people before the flood talked (prayed) with God
in the cool of the day as did their forefather Adam, nor sacrificed to God as
did Abel nor walked with God as did Enoch.
2. Marrying and
Giving in Marriage
Again, marriage is not
sinful, neither is it wrong for a man to give his daughter in marriage.
Marriage was ordained by God, and is blessed of Him. It is His plan whereby
mankind establishes the close relationships of a godly family and home, and
multiplies and replenishes the earth.
In Genesis 6:1-2 it appears
that the godly line of Seth was intermarrying with the carnal line of Cain.
According to II Peter 3:3-7 their behavior had degenerated to the point that
they had become scoffers and doubters. Had they forgotten God's judgment on
Adam, Eve, and Cain? Apparently so because Lamech boasted of slaying a man with
no regard for judgment. (See Genesis 4:19-23.)
3. Buying, Selling,
Planting, and Building
In Luke 17:26-30,
Jesus expands the comparison with the days immediately preceding His coming by
including the days of Lot. As we have already noted about those days just
before judgment fell, there was nothing inherently sinful about buying,
selling, planting or building.
Mankind was developing
skills and talents in many areas. Lamech's three sons excelled in making tents,
cattle raising, music, and industry. They now had music for entertainment. Thus
mankind, particularly the descendants of Cain, increased in power, wealth and
luxury. They built but where was the altar? Their simple nomadic lines were
becoming sophisticated and materialistic and corrupt. Violence filled the
earth. Every imagination of the thoughts of his (mankind's) heart were only
evil continually. (See Genesis 6:5-13.) God said, "I will destroy them
with the earth."
B. They Knew Not
Life was going on as
usual. . .the human race was engaged in its normal pursuits. . .the day before
the judgment looked like any other day to them. There was no advance warning
of exactly when judgment would come!
Jesus put it this way. "And knew not until the flood came, and took them
ail away" (Matthew 24:39).
1. So Shall Also
the Coming of the Son of Man Be
Noah had preached and
warned of impending judgment, but what was the reaction of a sinful world? The
same reaction that such a message receives today: "Oh, I've heard about
that all my life! I don't think there ever will be a judgment day, things will
always go on as they have been."
William M. Thackery
tells how the modern pilgrims came to Vanity Fair, where, in contrast with
Christian and his companion, they were quite popular. In the fair almost
anything could be purchased for a bit of scrip called Conscience. The dreamer
thought that he saw some foolish bargains: a young man giving his fortune for a
disease, a pretty girl who bartered a heart clear as crystal for an utterly
worthless jewel. Still today Vanity Fair sees some strange bargains.
The wise man obeys the
word of God and makes preparation now for the coming of the Lord!
2. The Same Extreme
Wickedness
The parallel between
the day of Noah and our generation is further marked by the extreme wickedness
common to both times. II Timothy 3:1-4 clearly describes our generation, and
declares these are the signs of the last days!
Just as surely as the
flood came on the unsuspecting populace in the days of Noah, and destroyed all
those who had not taken advantage of God's way of escape, so is the judgment of
God coming upon the generation of the last days. There will be no advance
warning of the exact time of His coming. As Jesus said, But of that day and
hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as
the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be"
(Matthew 24:36, 37).
C. Noah Prepared!
Noah was perhaps a strange
looking figure, laboring for many years over an unusual vessel and talking
about an impending flood. No doubt, he was the brunt of many jokes and the
subject of much light hearted laughter. But when the flood came, Noah—who
had obeyed God—was on the inside of the ark looking out, while the
scoffers and unbelievers suffered the penalty of their sin.
So it will be at the
return of the Lord. Those who have spurned God's claims on their life, and who
have rejected opportunities to serve Him, will receive condemnation and sorrow
and pain. Those who were willing to obey the voice of God and make preparations
will be ushered into everlasting joy.
As Jesus said, "Whosoever will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save
his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the
gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Whosoever therefore shall be
ashamed of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall
the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the
holy angels" (Mark 8:34-38).