2 Peter 3:6 KJV
[6] “whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:”
While the world perished, Noah and his family were preserved. The balance between judgment and salvation is a recurring theme in the Scriptures. During the flood, God addressed both justice and redemption. He displayed both His wrath and His grace at the same time.
Just as then, we live in a world filled with believers and unbelievers. The flood serves as a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness. He is faithful to judge, and He is faithful to deliver. Sinners should pay close attention to this verse. When we, as believers, see the shoreline, we can draw peace knowing that God will care for us even in the worst of times. We can be assured that no matter how dark this world gets, God has not forsaken His children. He has promised to take care of us.
When a sinner sees the shoreline, he should be reminded that God’s judgment is sure. There is no comfort offered to him in the reminder of the flood. Instead, the flood serves as a solemn warning that God will bring judgment to this world, so we had better get ready. God does not need any help when it comes to dealing with sin. The flood serves as evidence that there is a God in heaven and His judgments are true.
Just as Noah warned the world that the flood was coming, we must warn the world that judgment is coming. We must tell them that there is an ark of safety for them in these last days. Our responsibility is to point sinners to Christ. Do not let the scoffers of the last days keep you from sharing the Gospel. Be diligent about sharing your faith with others. Judgment is coming, and we must do all we can to rescue the perishing. We must develop a burden and pray for boldness to witness to the lost.
Time is running out just like it did in the days before the flood. As the ark drew closer to completion, I’m sure that the mocking intensified. Nevertheless, Noah kept on working and preaching that the flood was coming. He did not cease to obey God’s call on his life. He remained steadfast despite the world’s opinion.
I can imagine that when Noah and his family had safely entered the ark, and the door was shut, he was very thankful. When the heavens opened and God’s judgment fell upon this world, Noah and his family were safe on the inside. The scoffers were on the outside, drowning in their own unbelief because they chose not to believe the message that God had sent to them. We need to sound the warning because a day is coming when this world will face God’s hand of judgment like never before.