358 ~ Only God Knows

As the sail boat glides into the harbor, enveloped in the amber light of the setting sun, the captain contemplates the day’s occurrences. He considers the accomplished tasks and, somewhat detached from global happenings, anticipates the hopeful news that lies ahead. This serene moment is beautifully captured in Coal Harbour, Vancouver, BC.

Matthew 24:38-39 (ERV)

38 In those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving their children to be married right up to the day Noah entered the boat. 39 They knew nothing about what was happening until the flood came and destroyed them all. It will be the same when the Son of Man comes.

That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. This passage offers a stark and vivid portrayal of complacency and ignorance in the face of impending judgment, providing a wake-up call for vigilance and preparedness.

Historically, these verses are situated within the Olivet Discourse, where Jesus addresses His disciples about the signs of the end times and the coming of the Kingdom of God. This discourse occurs during the last week of Jesus’ life, a period rife with tension and expectation. The reference to the days of Noah harks back to Genesis 6-7, where humanity’s moral decay led to the divine judgment of the flood. By drawing this parallel, Jesus emphasizes divine intervention’s sudden and unexpected nature.

Culturally, the activities described—eating, drinking, marrying—were commonplace and mundane aspects of everyday life. Jesus uses these ordinary events to illustrate how people can be so absorbed in their routines that they become oblivious to spiritual realities and warnings. This was especially poignant in a Jewish context where weddings were grand, communal events, symbolizing joy and new beginnings, yet here they become metaphors for distraction and ignorance.

These verses underscore the necessity of spiritual alertness and readiness for Christ’s return. The comparison to Noah’s time cautions against complacency, urging believers to live with an awareness of God’s sovereign timeline. It also speaks to God’s mercy in providing warnings through prophets like Noah and ultimately through Jesus, even though many choose to ignore them.

In conclusion, Matthew 24:38-39 is a powerful appeal to remain vigilant and prepared for the coming of the Son of Man. It draws from historical and cultural contexts to deliver a message that transcends time: not to be consumed by daily life to the point of neglecting spiritual truths. As new believers, the call is to embrace a life of awareness, preparedness, and active faith, recognizing that our present actions echo into eternity.

Below are five interconnected Bible verses that you might find valuable for further reflection and study. These passages share a unified message and can be found within the Holy Scriptures.

Luke 17:26-27 (ERV): When the Son of Man comes again, it will be the same as it was at the time of Noah. People were eating, drinking, and getting married even on the day when Noah entered the boat. Then the flood came and killed them all.

Genesis 6:5 (ERV): The Lord saw that the people on the earth were very evil. He saw that they thought only about evil things all the time.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 (ERV): You know very well that the day the Lord comes again will be a surprise, like a thief who comes at night. People will say, ‘We have peace, and we are safe.’ At that time, destruction will come to them quickly, like the pains of a woman who is having a baby. And those people will not escape.

2 Peter 3:6 (ERV): Then the world was flooded with water and destroyed.

Hebrews 11:7 (ERV): God warned Noah about things that he could not yet see. But he had faith and respect for God, so he built a large boat to save his family. With his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and he became one of those who are made right with God through faith.