For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark.
And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
Noah had a wife and three sons, and his three sons were married. Noah's three daughters-in-law had to forsake their families and go into the ark, or they would have perished in the flood. A choice had to be made. The daughters-in-law's families probably thought they were religious nuts by marrying into Noah's family first of all, and then they ended up following Noah into the ark. Noah's three daughters-in-law probably pleaded with their parents, siblings and friends to enter the ark with them, but their family members and friends did not take heed to Noah's warnings of the flood that was coming. The daughters-in-law may have said, "We're planning for the worst, we're not going to take a chance with our souls. If Noah is wrong about the storm, then we will be safe, but if he's right, you all will be dead outside the ark. We're going to play it safe inside the ark with Noah. Please come in the ark with us, please, please!" The same thing was true for Noah's wife's family and friends. It probably stunk in the ark, because of all the animals; but it was safe in the ark. In Genesis 7:1, God invites Noah to "come" into the ark: “Depart” is the word of justice and judgment, but “Come” is the word of mercy and grace.
Noah's daughters-in-law's family members may have came by the ark each of the last seven days while they were sitting in the ark with Noah and his family were waiting for the door of the ark to close. Their families may have called to them and asked to come out of the ark, and quit acting so crazy, and stop letting Noah's message of doom influence you so, you are embarrassing and shaming us; this is so absurd."
They thought Noah was a lunatic and a madman. The saying in those days was probably, "You're about as crazy as Noah!" They were always despising him and cracking jokes about old Noah down at the bars and down at the churches. But the flood silenced their jests and ridicule of Noah. You see, Noah wasn't an educated theologian with his religious garb on walking around shaking people's hands on Sunday trying to make a buck and a name for himself. Oh no, Noah was a preacher of righteousness every day of the week, and he preached what God told him to say while he worked in the shipyard building the ark for no pay. Noah bore the reproach of God's message of judgment on this world; Noah was faithful and true to his Creator to the end, no matter the cost. The professional shipbuilders of Noah's day probably found fault and criticized his ark's plans and design and laughed and said, "Hah! If a flood does come, that piece of junk will never float or sail. That old wooden box you're building Noah will be your coffin!" Today is the day of Salvation; Be ye reconciled to God; Humbly believe in Jesus now, and be saved through childlike Faith in His Blood.
There may have been some folks in Noah's day, that actually respected Noah, and they came and listened to his sermons from time to time. But at the last, when they were invited into the ark, they said, "Well, maybe later, I need to study it some preacher. I'm taking this matter into very serious consideration, I'm not going to go into the ark just yet, maybe next Sunday I'll join Noah's crowd. You see, My buddies and I have a card game next Saturday night that I must attend."
Good intentions and good works never saved anybody. It all hinges on this one matter, inside or outside the ark: you're either inside the ark with a thousand imperfections, but altogether saved; or your'e outside the ark with a thousand good works, but in the end all outside the ark were drowned without a single exception!
Almost persuaded to be a Christian is like the man who was almost pardoned, but he was hanged by his neck on the gallows; kind of like the man who was almost rescued by the fireman, but he was burned up in his house. A door that is almost shut is open, and a man that is almost honest is a crook, and a man that is almost saved is still lost. Why halt ye between two opinions? Here is a rule without exception: all out of Christ are lost; all in Christ are saved; all unbelievers will perish; and all believers will be preserved in Christ. Be wise - give your soul, your sins, your heart, and your body over completely to the Lord Jesus Christ right now.
Noah was a just and perfect and righteous man before God in that wicked generation, and he found grace in the eyes of the LORD. Noah had a good testimony before the ungodly, in private with his family, and in his heart where God could see it all. Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
Noah's closest friends that didn't hearken to him perished just outside the ark. There was none that understood; there was none that sought after God; there was no fear of God before their eyes. They would not come into the ark that they might have life. They loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil; they would rather perish in their sins than go into the ark.
The workmen that assisted Noah in building the ark perished as well. They helped Noah cut the trees, saw the wood, lay the keel, frame the ark, mix and apply the pitch, and they watched the animals get on board, and then they wished Noah and his family well as they went up the gangplank; but they never walked up the brow themselves and got onboard. You see, you can help out down at the church, join the church, even get baptized, get your name on the roll, but that doesn't mean you are truly safe and sound IN CHRIST.
Noah didn't make many friends and he had very few converts (just seven), because his message was so narrow-minded and negative. The ungodly would say, "Noah, you just think your way is right and everybody else is wrong. Well, we have our faith, and you have yours, so quit judging us with your hell fire and damnation preaching. There's many ways to heaven; we're all working to get to the same place."
All the scientists, philosophers and religionists were swept away in the flood, just like the illiterate and unchurched. No matter who or what you are in this world - Ye must be born again before you enter the world to come. Hell is for those who knew God's will and did it not (neglected and rejected Christ); and Hell is also for those who would not know, but who lived and died willfully ignorant of the things of God (never paid Christ any mind at all, lived in total disregard of God). If you know right from wrong, and if you can understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, at your peril do you reject it, and at your peril do you neglect it!
The flood did not care if your were a prince or pauper, governor or beggar, religious or profane; the flood didn't care if you lived in a hut or in a palace - all were taken away. The doubters and mockers of Noah also perished in the deep. And those who tried to build their own boat, because they didn't believe in the finished work of Noah, yes, all their boats sank to the bottom in the storm. But God remembered Noah, and only the Ark weathered the flood and landed safely on Mount Ararat. You must personally find refuge in the finished work and person of Christ Jesus. If your heart is trusting in Christ Jesus Himself, come what may, you are safe; but if you rest not in *Him*, come what will, you are lost.
I am sure those young ladies were mocked and ridiculed for hearkening and forsaking all (family, friends, possessions, reputation) and hearkening to Noah's prophecy. Now understand - The flood was no respecter of persons; the ark was an absolute (just like the Cross today), and the only way to escape the flood (the wrath of God on human sin). Christ Jesus suffered the flood of God's fierce wrath when He dying by inches on the Cross. *Psalm 88:16-17*
But on that final day, right before the rain starting falling, the door of the ark was lifted and shut up without man's help while Noah and the others were inside with the animals. The daughters-in-law's family members outside probably thought to themselves, "Who just lifted up, closed and sealed that enormous door on the ark?" The Bible says that the Lord shut Noah's family in the ark. *Genesis 7:16* The unseen hand of the Almighty closed the door on the ark.
Noah faithfully and compassionately warned the ungodly to flee from the wrath to come for 120 years. Remember that, they rejected Noah's message for 120 years. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he; but the ungodly were not so. Your religiousness can never purchase you an escape from hell fire. The grace and justice of God are no respecters of financial state, educational level, religious sect, rank or status. Be wise - simply believe in Jesus as a poor guilty sinner, and look to the Lamb of God - His Blood (Precious, Innocent, Atoning, Forgiving Blood) - for all your Salvation. Trust only to Jesus, or you'll drown in the lake of fire despite your baptismal regeneration (magical water), good works (self-righteousness), and sacraments (idolatry and superstition). If you're no good, come on to the Cross without delay.
The daughters-in-law were safe inside when the rain started falling; they probably wept when the rain started pelting against the top and sides of the ark. And once the ark started moving and floating away, the daughters-in-law probably sorrowed over their families that were all swept away and drowned in the torrential downpour of rain. Their parents and siblings and friends should have listened and entered the ark, but it was too late.
Sin-loving worldlings are neglectful of their souls, busy about fleeting vanities, but negligent of eternal verities. Human beings are indifferent concerning their souls' safety. Like dead fish, they must go with the stream; for they have not the power of the living fish to swim against the current. They are earnest about their physical life and well being, but their souls are always put last and least. If a man thinks he is going to burn up in a house, he will try to get out and cry out desperately for help. If a man is drowning, he will kick and struggle to stay alive. If a man gets sick, he will get to the doctor, and find out the best advice and care that will help him recover, and his physical life be spared. And yet the safety of his soul seems to be a matter of no importance at all. Your soul is your true self, and your body is simply a garment that you are a wearing, a house that you are residing in for a short time. But the tenant (your soul) residing inside that house (your flesh) is sick and dying while you try to keep the outside in good shape. Your soul must live forever in another world. The Creator was made flesh to redeem sinful men, and now whosoever trusts in Him shall be saved from the love of sin.
Carelessness and indifference concerning your soul, an evil heart of unbelief, mindless procrastination, vain worldliness, gluttony, drunkenness, lust, money-making, and the love for your sins will be your tragic demise. Get education, get money, get cars and houses and clothes, strive to obtain a respectable title and position in this life, enjoy wining and dining, and then wind up in Hell where you belong. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! Prepare for the inevitable Eternity that lies before you.
It's still not too late for you to enter the Ark of Safety that is available today to shelter your immortal soul - His name is the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ Jesus, God manifest in the flesh, is the only One who can protect your soul from the wrath to come on Sin. Christ died for the ungodly; It is Finished; Through His Blood - go to God manifest in the flesh in all your sinfulness, without attempting to make yourself better first, and cast yourself upon His infinite mercy through the person and blood of Christ Jesus.
