”Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” [36] [e] 37 “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.” Luke 17.26-37
This passage should serve as a warning to unbelievers and a witness to followers of Christ.
It’s a very dire message about what will happen when in “the days of the Son of Man.” People were “eating, drinking, marrying….” and just going through life. This was the case before God flooded the earth with Noah and the ark as well as when God let fire fall at Sodom. People were oblivious to the coming destruction. And it wasn’t as if they were not warned. Prophets came and the message to repent and return to the Lord was clear.
But just as in the days of Noah and Sodom, it will be the same as on that day when the Son of Man is revealed (v.30). Just the same! Which is really scary. Perhaps there will be a warning when Jesus takes his people to heaven, or it may be instantaneous. (There is evidence for both in this passage.) When the time comes, if we have warning, we are not to look back, like Lots’ wife. In addition, Jesus tells us that “whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” And in some cases, where two people are together, one will be taken and the other left.
As I said in my opening statement, those who are not followers of Christ should wake up to the reality of the coming end of days. But those of us who are followers must spread the message of hope, love and salvation. Jesus came not to save our bodies but our souls. The part of us which will last for all eternity (our souls) can be kept by the Lord or thrown into the fire, separated from God forever. It’s really not his doing but our choice.
I wish I could just skim over this passage and not talk about the things Jesus is talking about! I wish I could ignore it and move on to a more fun passage about the love of God and hope for the world. But the truth is a reality that will happen. God’s Word is true, he will return to claim is own people and those who ignore are not without excuse.
Is it any wonder that Jesus’ final words were those of sending forth? Of the Great Commission? Of the giving of the Holy Spirit so people might come to know the Lord as God and King?
Join with me today in fulfilling the Great Commission, of reaching the least, last and lost, and of taking the good news of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
”O Lord God, you are good. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for allowing me to walk in grace and peace with you. Even when I fail, you remain faithful. Even when I turn away, you restore me to wholeness. Come now, Righteous Judge, have mercy on us! Have mercy on your creation! Send us forth as doves among wolves to proclaim your saving works. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen