In the Old Testament we have several times read that when the sins of the world increased, there is intervention from the Lord. It is not necessary that the sins and actions that man considers as trivial are trivial before the Lord as well. The Lord is holy, there is nothing unholy in Him. In the New Testament, Jesus, the Son of God, repeats these happenings before everyone. He then reiterates that His coming also would be like this-without any forewarning. He told us to look around ourselves, observe and be vigilant about the changes. During the time of Noah, the great floods destroyed the whole world. Before the floods, Noah too prophesied the word of God before everyone. We see that everyone mocked and ridiculed his words. What about today???
1.Noah and family: Genesis 6:13, 13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. Without any questions or doubt, Noah and his family followed every instruction that was given by the Lord. Noah wanting to save other must definitely have shared the word of God with others too. It is regretful that they were so seeped into the sin that they did not pay heed and ridiculed him. In the great floods, the whole earth was destroyed, except for the Family of Noah and the animals and birds inside the Ark. The Bible teaches us that the Lord blessed those with abundance who follow His instructions with obedience.
2.Lot and his family: The sins of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah had increased manifold. Two angels were sent to Sodom-Gomorrah by the Lord. They came to Lot, son of Abraham’s brother. Genesis 19:12-14, 12 The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, 13 because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. They paid no heed to the words of God and had to suffer the consequences.
Genesis 19:24, 24 Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. They considered the words of warning as rather trivial and paid no attention. Hence, they too were burned down with the rest of the people of Sodom-Gomorrah. The Lord had said to them that while none of them should turn back. Genesis 19:26, 26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
3.King Hezekiah: King Hezekiah after the complete purification of the temple decided to celebrate the Passover festival. 2 Chronicles 30:10, 10 The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them. The people did not purify themselves as the Lord had instructed and also said by King Hezekiah, and celebrated the Passover. The King who had desired to please the Lord by doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord prayed for them. 2 Chronicles 30:18-20, 18 Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone 19 who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” 20 And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. Let us all also pray for the healing of the world.
4.Jonah: The city of Nineveh was drowning in sin. The Lord chose Jonah and sent him to prophecy the destruction of the city if they did not repent. What did Jonah do? Instead of going to Nineveh he went to Tarshish. Tired and exhausted, Jonah slept peacefully below the deck of the ship. Our Father wanting to protect His children from sin, made the winds blow wildly across the sea and there was a violent storm. Jonah 1:6, 6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.” The same question is put before each one us by the Father in heaven. Accepting his mistakes, Jonah asks the captain to throw him into the sea. The raging sea became calm. Jonah 1:17, 17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah cried out to the Father in heaven, Jonah 2:1-10,
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said:
“In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
4 I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’ …….
9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”
10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Jonah reached the city of Nineveh and gave the Lord’s warning. From the King to the common man, everyone was afraid and had a change of heart. They repented from their sins. Jonah 3:6-10, When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
The word of God clearly teaches us that the Lord takes sin very seriously. The result of sin is death of the spirit/soul. Today, repentance and sins are meaningless words for everyone as they live life on their own terms sinking in worldly pleasures. Certain group of people think that the second coming of Jesus and the final judgement are all old school thinking, rudimentary and baseless.
We easily say that the sins of the world were not as severe as they are in today’s time. We have read and seen those who have followed the word of God and those who have ignored them. Today, the children of God are testing His patience. Unlike Noah, they have fled from the sight of the Lord and living on their terms and desires. The end result will be like those who ignored, either under water or in the belly of the fish.
Jesus has said that during Noah’s time people lived according to his/her desire. Everything was destroyed in the flood that came unexpectedly. Dear children of God, the earth and sky may disappear but the word of God will not disappear.
Dear Children of God, pause and think. Like the sons in law of Lot, like Lot’s wife, we can either take the words as trivial and ignore them. Or like Nineveh and Noah be rescued and blessed. Think. Just think if these things were to happen without any warning, where does each of us stand?? The Lord selected Noah and Lot from among several families on Earth. Will He do the same for each of us or will we be destroyed? If you desire to be rescued, pay attention to the word of God and obey them will complete submission. Let us all rescue ourselves and the world.
1 Samuel 12:23-24, 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
Jehovah Roi 