Verses 26-27 He compared his future coming to the days of Noah when God delivered Noah and his family and wiped out the rest of the earth.
In the book of Genesis, God spoke to Noah, and he delivered the warning of ruin for those “asleep” and living in sin. But literally, everyone on the face of the earth could not care less and they went on indulging in their lusts and desires, giving no attention to God until the flood came and his judgment fell as hell swallowed them up.
A Plea To Wake Up
Verses 28-29 Just in case you might think judgment is only for wicked people with twisted desires, look at this story in the days of Lot. The people were very busy buying, selling, planting, and building. All good things. They were so absorbed in the normal activities of life that they gave their hearts over to their to-do lists. So much so that they failed to stop and take God’s warnings through Lot seriously.
When the people heard this warning about approaching judgment, they should have been fasting, praying, repenting, and reforming their lives. But they didn’t care until Lot left Sodom and God’s judgment fell on the city with fire. It was too late.
The Sin of Hitting Snooze
Until the day that Noah entered the ark, and Lot left Sodom, nothing said or done to the people awakened them. God took care of those who believed and feared him. He preserved their lives.
Jesus’ kingdom will save those who follow his instructions and He will destroy those asleep in their earthly security, drowned in sensuality, engulfed in their corruption and violence, just as the old world was in the days of Noah, and Sodom in the days of Lot.
Verse 30 When Jesus returns, God’s judgment will follow a similar pattern to these Old Testament stories of God’s deliverance and judgment. Warnings will go out to awaken listeners, just as Jesus is doing here in the text. Just as the disciples will continue to do. Just as followers today believe, obey, and do.
But hurts will harden hearts. Sinful desires will cave to the lusts of the world. Carelessness will devour the tired soul. And people will make up their own religions.
No excuse can overturn God’s judgment.
Do Not Look Back
Verses 31-32 We must prepare ourselves and let go of the false securities and excuses in our lives; material possessions, our agendas, being a busybody, or just plain lazy. Judgment will be swift and thorough. There will be no time to reclaim anything. Those who cannot take God’s word seriously and disobey will bear the consequences.
These verses speak to the urgency in our response when the warning goes out. When warned of our last days, the last thing on our minds should be our stuff. If we were on a rooftop, we would not come down to collect our things before we leave.
There is no time to spare.
The extra baggage of our stuff, to-do’s, and even our loved ones will hold us back. When the warning goes out, we shouldn’t stay behind to look after our stuff, either.
Whatever is left behind, let it go. Do not look back like Lot’s wife did. In Genesis 19:26, scripture says she turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back at Sodom as it was being destroyed. She’s now a lasting monument of God’s displeasure!
Biblestudytools.com says, “the reason for her looking, was to see what would be the end of her father’s house and family; or, [it might be] because her heart yearned after her daughters, and she looked back to see if they followed her.”
What an incredible reminder for our lives as a follower of Jesus! Don’t look back on your old sinful life going up in smoke as you walk away. If we look back, it may tempt us to go back. Be careful of indulging the thoughts of an old life.
God’s judgment is coming and you don’t want to be found admiring that old life of sin.
Whoever tries to save his life will lose it.
Verse 33 Whoever tries to save their lives by seeking refuge in false securities (the people and things in this world), by complying with whatever the world is doing, they will surely lose their lives along with the rest of the unbelieving world.
Those who let go of their lives, the stuff, the desires of the flesh, and accept the way Jesus taught us to live, sacrificing fleshly freedoms for the spiritual freedom in Christ, forgiving the unforgivable, Jesus will preserve their lives in the end. Eternity is waiting for them.
Death Will Come For Us All
Verses 34-37 From the outside, people may look the same, but God sees the heart. He knows their relationship with him. Death will come for all. Notice this first reference to death comes at night. The obscurity in the timing of death is like looking in the dark – we cannot see it coming. When our minds are sleepy or distracted. But while two seemingly similar people sleep or work, God’s sovereign will and providence will come for one and leave the other. Jesus will return suddenly, taking some and leaving others. You don’t want to be one of those left behind. People will split between heaven and hell based on their relationship with God.
Where will this happen? The verse says, ‘Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs show the end is near.”’ Luke 17:37 NLT. I don’t want to get caught up in the details here. It’s going to happen soon and it will be swift! There are necessary conditions that only Jesus is aware of. The book of Revelation gives some clues, but we still do not know the hour. The Bible outlines necessary conditions politically, economically, spiritually, on a social level, and on a military level. Many believe we currently meet these conditions and now living in those last days.
One commentator remarked that just as a dead carcass draws vultures, the spiritually dead will draw God’s judgment. I think that’s a pretty fair statement to make.
Prayer
Jesus, I desire you. Help my heart stay close enough to hear the warning in your whispers. Nothing compares to the satisfaction and joy I have in you. I don’t want to absorb myself in day-to-day activities and to-do lists I fall asleep to the alarms. My security is wherever you are, Jesus. I pray for my heart to remain soft to receive your good things and not hardened by the pain in this world. When I look back on my life, it’s easy to go back and entertain old thoughts. But I am a new creation in you, Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). Thank goodness your faithful love never ends and your mercy is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT). I don’t want to comply with the world. I want to indulge in more of you, Jesus. You are my refuge. The spiritual freedom I have in you is worth every sacrifice. My heart is alert and watching for you, Jesus. I don’t want to be found with the spiritually dead at the end of my days. Search my heart, God, and point out anything in me that offends you. Lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalms 139:23-24 https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.139.23-24.NLT) In Jesus’ name, Amen.