THE LAST CHANCE

“After seven days the waters of the flood came and covered the earth. When Noah was 600 years old, on the seventeenth day of the second month, all the underground waters erupted from the earth and rain fell in mighty torrents from the sky.”Genesis 10-11NLT

            Seven long days they waited in the dim interior of the boat. Isn’t it interesting that it took God 7 days to create the earth, the universe and all life on the earth, and He also waited 7 days before destroying all living things on the face of the earth?

All the animals, two of each kind, seven of the clean animals, the ones used for sacrifice and later for food, were in the ship. Noah and his family, eight people were on board and God closed the door and sealed it. No one else could get in.

Then they waited seven days with nothing happening except maybe a pitter-patter of rain on the roof. Was it a time to give the people a chance to repent? To turn to God? To give up their wicked ways? Maybe.

Like the city of Nineveh when Jonah preached and said, “In 40 days Nineveh will be utterly destroyed and all life wiped out.”

Then the people believed in God. The king made a decree that all people should turn from their evil ways and cry mightily to God. “For who can tell if God will relent and turn from His mighty anger, so we will not perish?” (from Jonah 3:1-9)

Low and behold if God did relent! “He saw they turned from evil ways and relented from the disaster He had said He would bring upon them. And He did NOT do it!” (Jonah 3:10)

Could it be if the people on earth would have tuned from their wicked ways that God would have relented? Maybe if ten people had turned to God He would’ve not brought the disaster. We won’t ever know because no one believed and turned to God.

I can imagine they laughed and jeered at Noah and his family. Can you hear the jokes told around the dinner table?

“We wanted a zoo so we built a boat around Noah and some animals!” Or how about the betting going on, “I bet you ten bucks he’ll stay in there a whole month! Whacha say, huh?”

Oh yeah, I’m sure every time they saw that huge ship perched on the hills, they shook their heads and laughed. Deep belly laughs and thigh slapping guffaws. How could anyone be so stupid? Hearing a voice from Heaven, Ha! Destroying the earth with a flood! Ho! Who is this God anyway? And what’s all this water dripping from the sky?

            Seven days and the sky drizzled ominous rain. The ark settled and creaked. The animals shuffled around restlessly each making their noises. Can you imagine the din? I can just see a monkey swinging from the rafters, screeching, then dropping down to share in a meal with the humans. I can imagine birds swooping through the air and hear the loud squawking of a brightly colored parrot.

Noah and his family went about the daunting business of feeding and watering the animals, stopping to listen now and then, waiting and wondering. Was it really going to happen?   Was there really going to be a flood or were the others right? Maybe Noah’s wife stared daggers at him.  Could be his daughter-in-laws whispered amongst themselves about how crazy Noah was to shut them away in a dark, stuffy boat claiming a flood was coming.  Yet nothing was happening. Nothing at all. Except what was this water dripping from the sky?

Seven days when God gave the world another chance. Seven days when God held His breath and His anger simmered. Yet the storm was building. Dark clouds formed on the horizon, black ominous clouds like no one had ever seen.

The firmament wept. The animals sought shelter. Deep inside its core, the earth trembled. Yet the people laughed and made their jeers and went about their life as usual.

At the dawn of the eight day, the earth began to shake.

Don’t miss the last chance.  Come to Jesus before the door is sealed. Believe in Him before the testing begins. Accept His salvation, turn to Him before God pours His wrath on the world. Don’t be found eating and making jokes at the wrong table. The shaking has begun, be ready to go. Keep your eyes on the sky for the King is coming on high!

For 7 years God will pour His wrath upon the sinful world. It will be a time of testing, a time of tribulation, a terrible time when God will allow sin and Satan to reign on earth. A time when God will pound the earth with His wrath, both naturally and supernaturally.  Seven years when He will give sinful man one more chance to repent and turn to Him, before the final judgment when all who are against God will be sent to eternal torment.

Don’t miss the boat.  Don’t wait until the door is closed.  Don’t wait, you may not have a second chance.  Come to Jesus now before it is too late.

Jesus said, “When the Son of Man (Jesus) returns it will be like it was in the days of Noah. In those days before the flood, people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings, right up to the time Noah entered his boat.

People did not realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill, one will be taken, the other left.

So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.” Mathew 24:27-41