(Mat 24:37-38) “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (38)  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,”

Through this series of devotions, “As in the Days of Noah”, we have been comparing the Days of Noah with the times of today (to see how much mankind has changed over the millennial years) concerning the depraved nature of the unregenerate, which is revealed by the outward actions. We have concluded that the heart and the imagination of unregenerate man are still evil continually, as it was in the days of Noah (Gen. 6:5). We have also noted that the judgment of God was brought on mankind, with the exception of Noah, his wife, and their three sons and the wives of the sons, by way of a flood (Gen. 6:7, 17; cf. Romans 2:4-5; Hebrews 9:27; Jude 1:5-7; and Revelation 20:11-15).

Just as God brought judgment upon the earth in the days of Noah, there is certainly a day approaching where all mankind will stand before God in judgment. But, thanks be to God for His goodness and longsuffering – (2 Pe 2:9) “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” – God is merciful and longsuffering. He made a way of salvation for the people of Noah’s day, by the way of the ark. Today, we have our salvation in the Person of Jesus Christ. Although God pronounced judgment; He also brought a way of deliverance. We have seen God’s Gift of Salvation.

Now let us look at God’s Plan of Restoration:

(Gen 8:21-22) “And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.  (22) While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

(Gen 9:7)  “And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.”

Here we have God’s Plan of Restoration of the earth and of mankind on the earth. But God also, in the Person of His only begotten son Jesus Christ, died on the Cross for the sins of man (Matt. 1:21); so that fellowship and man’s rightful place would be restored: (Joh 3:17)  “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Noah offered a burnt offering sacrifice unto the Lord and it was a sweet smelling savor unto Him.

You cannot bring a sacrifice unto the Lord if your heart is not right before Him. Two prime examples are given of those who brought sacrifices to God that were unacceptable: Cain, Gen. 4:4-8; and Israel, Isa. 1:10-17).

Paul said:

(Rom 12:1-2) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The Apostle Paul also wrote to the church in Ephesus:

(Eph. 2:1-3) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  (2)  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  (3)  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

That is, we were dead in trespasses and sin until the Holy Spirit of God quickened us, thereby giving us life, the life of God.

Also, the Apostle Paul wrote the same to the Church in Corinth, (1Co 15:21-22) “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  (22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Now the key word in verse 22 is “in Christ shall all be made alive.”

If you are not “in Christ”, then you are still dead in trespasses and sin. To be “in Christ” is to be restored back to life, and back into fellowship with God the Father, by a work of grace in the heart by the Holy Spirit of God – this is called regeneration.

Now I will agree by saying that the days we are now living in are not any different than the days of Noah. But, for those who have been restored back into fellowship with God by the work of the Holy Spirit, we are (Heb. 11:8-10) “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (9) By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: (10) For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

And we are (2 Pe 3:13) “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Peter writes of a coming judgment upon the earth by fire (2 Peter 3:10-11).

My question to you, Dear Reader is: Will you despise the goodness and longsuffering of God that leadeth to repentance? Or will you ask God to open your blinded eyes to restore you, or bring you to life and fellowship?