As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be in the days of the Son of Man;
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage up to the day
that Noah entered the ark,
and the flood came and destroyed them all.
The end times will be similar to the days of Noah, which are in a way also similar to our own day. Just as there were then and will be in the future there are presently those who are so hypnotized by the world around them and intoxicated by the routine of daily life that they don't pay attention to the word of God and do not heed the call to repentance. They are the ones who excuse themselves from attendance at the banquet of the king because they have better things to do (see Matthew 22), even if those better things are the drudgery of daily work. But by contrast there are also those who are in the world but not of it (see John 17:14), and who use it as not using it fully (see First Corinthians 7:31).
God has provided in ark for his people in the form of his Church. He desires to lead all people away from the fire and brimstone that will ultimately destroy sin and death and those who cling to them. But at least two things are necessary for us to ensure we are in this company. First we need to listen to the word of God when he calls us to come out and stand away from the society around us. We must not be embarrassed by our ark even when the rain isn't yet falling. We must follow Jesus where he leads us even before the fire of destruction begins. Second, we must not be too attached to lesser goods. If we are so attached to the things of this world the risk is that when we are asked to forego them for the sake of the Kingdom that we will not be able to do so. If we find ourselves clinging to this world in ways that hinder our ability to follow Christ we should try to address those attachments now when we still have the relative safety to do so.
I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed;
one will be taken, the other left.
And there will be two women grinding meal together;
one will be taken, the other left.
The Lord intends to lead his faithful remnant to safety. For a while this remnant may look much like those around them, engaging faithfully in daily work, living as good citizens of the countries and nations to which they belong even as they remember that their primary citizenship is in heaven (see Philippians 3:20). But the end, either of our lives, or of the world itself, will inevitably come. And with it will come judgment when the spiritual disposition of our souls is revealed. If we ultimately choose to shun the rescue mission that Jesus' incarnation and Passion represented he will not force it on us. But he will certainly save those who have longed for his appearance (see Second Timothy 4:7-9).
Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for
but may receive a full recompense.
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