The Days of Noah
Scripture: “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24.38-39, ESV)
MAIN POINT: The greatest danger is not overt wickedness but comfortable normalcy that ignores God’s coming judgment.
The world in Noah’s day wasn’t filled with people actively rebelling against God—at least not in Jesus’ description. They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. These are not evil activities. They were simply living normal lives: working, planning weddings, enjoying meals with family. Life seemed stable, predictable, ordinary.
This is precisely what made the flood so devastating. They were “unaware until the flood came.” Noah had been building that massive ark for decades—a conspicuous warning of coming judgment. As 2 Peter 2.5 tells us, Noah was “a herald of righteousness.” He preached. He warned. He testified. And they ignored him completely, absorbed in the comfortable rhythm of daily life.
The danger facing us is not that we’ll become overtly wicked but that we’ll become comfortably absorbed in the ordinary. We’ll focus on careers and hobbies, on retirement plans and vacation dreams, while ignoring the reality that Christ is returning. Like Noah’s generation, we may be polite, productive, and pleasant—and completely unprepared for judgment.
Reflection: Comfortable normalcy can be just as spiritually dangerous as open rebellion. What “normal” activities or pursuits might be distracting you from spiritual watchfulness? How can you engage in daily life while maintaining awareness of Christ’s return?
Prayer: Lord, save us from the spiritual sleep of comfortable normalcy. While we work and eat and plan, keep our hearts awake to Your coming. Help us live as those who know the day is drawing near. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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