In the presence of light

¹¹In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. ¹²And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. ¹³On that very day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark. ¹⁴They had with them every wild animal according to its kind, all livestock according to their kinds, every creature that moves along the ground according to its kind and every bird according to its kind, everything with wings. ¹⁵Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark. ¹⁶The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in. (Genesis 7: 11-16)

Seven days after God issued the last warning, humans had the last chance to enter the ark (7: 4). Noah warned people to enter the ark. if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others(II Peter 2: 5). However, people made a fool of Noah and did not enter the ark.

And after the last seven days of chance, God closed the door behind the ark. The Lord closed the door behind him (verse 16). During this time, they were saved if they repented, sought salvation, and entered the ark. But they did not respond to God’s invitation to repentance. Finally, the heavenly lock was opened, heavy rain began to fall, and it continued to rain for 40 days and 40 nights (verse 11-12). The period of salvation is over. God’s judgment has begun.

Jesus spoke of the end in the parable of the ten daughters (five stupid daughters and five wise daughters) welcoming the groom. ¹⁰“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. ¹¹“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ ¹²“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ ¹³“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25: 10-13). Once the door is closed, it can never be opened again.

This era may be just before the end of judgment, such as Noah’s Flood. God’s judgment will come someday. But now we still have a chance to save. Indeed, it is a time of grace and a day of salvation (II Corinthians 6: 2). But that doesn’t last forever. It’s time to close the door. The time is approaching when the door of salvation will be closed.

Are our family and friends inside the ark? The ark represents Jesus Christ. It is safe to be in Jesus. If we are in Christ, we don’t have to be afraid of judgment.

We need to preach the gospel in the presence of light. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. (John 9: 4). It is still the daytime era, the era of light. However, the era of night and the era of darkness are coming. Such a time is approaching. Who should we warn, “Get inside the ark. Believe in Jesus.”

Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” (John 12:36).