30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 17 20-37 Be occupied with the work of His kingdom, till He returns 14 Men and women of faith
📖 Luke 17:20-37
21Aug2020 - *Men and women of faith* - _Luke 17:20-37_ - BE OCCUPIED WITH THE WORK OF HIS KINGDOM, TILL HE RETURNS 14 – Bible reading: _Luke 18:8_
_Luke 17:26-27 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: (27) They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all._
_Matthew 24:36-39 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. (37) But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (38) For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, (39) and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be._
Bible commentators say that it took anywhere between 75 -120 years for Noah to build the ark. Try and imagine as to how this would have been for Noah to be a preacher of righteousness at a time when no one had seen rain. An entire generation had grown up hearing the preaching of Noah but no one repented of his ways. We can only speculate as to how people of Noah’s time would have considered Noah. _II Peter 2:5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;_
The Lord is stirring our minds and our faith in a time, when lawlessness has increased manifold and people are determined to go their own ways and not seek for God. _II Peter 3:1-4 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), (2) that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, (3) knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, (4) and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."_
Noah was in a far harder position than us, for over the years people have seen the ways of God and have witnessed the love of God in the lives of His people. Yet, we must be faithful to God in our generation just as Noah was to his generation. _Job 21:14-15 Yet they say to God, 'Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways. (15) Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?' Malachi 3:14-15 You have said, 'It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the LORD of hosts? (15) So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are raised up; They even tempt God and go free.' "_
The Lord is reminding us that even as people continue on in their merry ways, the end will come suddenly and the people of this world will not escape. The gravity of the situation is being impressed on us that we must press on in being occupied with the work of His kingdom until He returns.
_I Thessalonians 5:1-3 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. (2) For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. (3) For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape._
When the Lord returns, what is He expecting to see in us, His people? _Luke 18:8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, *will He really find faith on the earth?*"_
Let us commit to being men and women of faith in the end times.
*Thought to ponder*
```God is concerned if He will see faith on the earth. Let us not disappoint Him.```