Life and death

4 December 2021

¹⁷ For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth. ¹⁸ The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. ¹⁹ They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered. ²⁰ The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than fifteen cubits. ²¹ Every living thing that moved on land perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind. ²² Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. ²³ Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. ²⁴ The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.  (Genesis 7: 17-24)

The deluge lasted for 40 days. The water level increased, and the water covered the mountains, and finally the highest mountain (verse 17-20). Birds, livestock, beasts, and humans all died. Everyone has been erased from the ground. This was God’s judgment. Only the family and animals that were in the ark with Noah were saved (verse 21-23). How regretful they were not in the ark? But it’s too late.

This is similar to the event that separated Israel’s salvation and Egypt’s judgment when escaping Egypt. The firstborn of an Israeli house that had sheep’s blood on the house’s sword and gatepost was saved, but the firstborn of an Egyptian house that did not have sheep’s blood on the house’s sword and gatepost died. The blood of the sheep clearly divided life and death. So that night Pharaoh, his vassals, and all Egypt got up. And there was a fierce cry in Egypt. That is because there was no house without dead people. (Exodus 12:30)

What is clear here is that there was no other way of salvation than the ark. It clearly shows that there is no other way to be saved than the modern ark, the Lord Jesus. Peter preached. ” There is no salvation by anyone but this one(Jesus Christ) , for no one has been given a name to be saved other than this name in heaven. ” (Acts 4:12) There is no salvation other than Jesus. If we do not stay within the Lord Jesus, the modern ark, we will experience the destruction of God’s judgment. It’s the result of sin. Just like the people of Noah’s day. But if we stay in Jesus, we are as safe as Noah and Noah’s family. For forgiveness of sins is given through belief in Jesus, and the punishment and judgment of sins pass over.

Jesus warned about the end of the world by referring to Noah’s Flood.  ³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  (Matthew 24: 37-44)

Those who have the Son have life, and those who do not have the Son of God have no life. (ⅠJohn 5:12)

I will put life and death, blessings and curses before you. You choose life. For you and your descendants will live, love your God, the Lord, listen to your voice, and obey the Lord. (Deuteronomy 30: 19,20)

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