Putting the "Flood" Into Perspective
I believe that if you take the time to read this you will begin to understand the loving God we have that is set apart from the wrathful God we've always thought about...
Imagine a certain place contaminated with a highly contagious and lethal virus. Because of the symptoms of this virus, the experience in this place is slightly pleasurable or enjoyable at first. However, the longer someone stays infected here, the more gratifying and entertaining it seems to be. The repeated exposure causes the virus to propagate inside of them and it becomes harder and harder for them to want a cure. The deep pleasures and gratification become more stimulating and eventually it becomes overwhelmingly addictive. The virus is slow to bring it's death to some of it's victims. However, others are killed more rapidly. The problem lies in that these infected people begin to cherish this certain place. Gradually, everyone is enticed and therefore become further and further exposed to the virus here. The symptoms that everyone can outwardly see (almost euphoric) in the severely infected people, allure others to further expose themselves.
Some, although few comparably, have an adverse reaction to this virus and lose themselves becoming violent or destructive towards others and sometimes even themselves. However, even though it's contagious destruction continues to wreak havoc throughout humanity, the symptoms of this rogue virus continue to seem promising to them. Innocent children sometimes become victims among men and women alike. Whether through prolonged exposure to the virus inside this place or through the violent actions of the ones with the adverse reactions. They bring harm to children and anyone else who would dare stand in their way but eventually, it consumes them. The virus causes their personality and character to change. Once, innocent children themselves, curious and happy to the things life had to offer. Now, some of them, close to death by this sickness become brute beasts with an unquenchable appetite only for themselves. Their only care is for the indulgence of the short lasting pleasures this virus gives to them inside this place. The epidemic spreads like a wild fire across all mankind devouring everyone who seeks it's pleasures. The devastation continues to claim lives rapidly. All because of this one place where the virus is.
A certain man discovers the cure. He becomes aware of the fact that something absolutely needs to be done. If this virus isn't destroyed or these people don't accept the cure, the virus is going to kill them all. The man steps forward for the love of humanity and goes to these people with the intent to rescue all that he can. The virus absolutely needs to be defeated to save mankind as it teeters on the edge toward a bitter ending. He screams and pleas for these people to depart from the virus inside of this place and accept the cure but no one will listen. Voices ring out among the infected, "We could all stop this ourselves if we really wanted to. Leave us alone!" others scream, "We don't need a cure, we feel just fine and want to remain exactly how we are. Leave this place alone!" Still, the people continue to expose themselves to the virus inside of this place and defiantly cling to it. Consumed by the false sense of euphoria the symptoms of the virus give them in here, they refuse. The caring man continues to press on even harder to save them.
Seasons came and went and the constant cries for them to walk away from the virus in this place continued. He promised them that the cure would save them if they would only just excepted it. The cure would eventually break the choke hold the virus had on them inside this place but their loyalty to it was just too great. This was evident by the numerous unanswered pleas to them from the one man that desired to save them. Mankind was on the brink of complete annihilation by an insidious affliction that would seem incredibly pleasurable for quite some time but would eventually bring them horrible painful, torment and suffering until they were ultimately consumed. For the sake of all humanity, this place could not be spared because it harbored the virus. Only one man knew of this cure. His life was the only hope for mankind. If he were to die or be killed, the cure would have been lost forever. Some of the infected people knew that some day the virus would need to be destroyed but their affection toward the symptoms of this virus was too great. It was their choice to remain. They ignored the dedication and love by this one man who tried to save them. Their own lust for these symptoms kept them from answering the cries that pleaded to them out of love. It was in defiance that they did this. Even going as far as to sacrifice their own children. Their love for this place was greater than the love of their own families. They grabbed hold of their innocent children and would not let them go. They could have listened and brought their own little ones with them to be cured but they didn't. Defiantly, they clung onto the virus inside this place with a tight hold on their families.
All of them but this one man and his family were destroyed....
It was a day of absolute sorrow and lamentation. Nobody wanted this to happen but it had to be done. Tears flowed down the cheeks of all who stood and watched this terrible event unfold. Solemn cries echoed between them, "why?", "why didn't they listen?" "Why wouldn't they come out and be cured?" "How could they do this to themselves and their own children?" To this very day they carry with them this immense pain within their hearts. The love of all that were lost remains within them, along with one lingering question..... why?
The place that was destroyed is only figurative. It is the place within our heart where we so strongly keep our passions toward the things of self or the things of God. The virus is sin. All of us have the choice whether to cleave unto sin or take the walk out toward life where we find the cure. The cure is the Word of God, which is the Lord who will again come and remove sin forever in this same exact way. The man was Noah who dedicated his life to God and preached (2 Peter 2:5) His Word. His loving cries for them to let go of the sin that they held in their hearts were from God Himself. Those who watched this happen in sorrow and pain were God and His angels. He provided a way toward life with a cure and it has always been His will that ALL come to him and live. God gave those people 120 years to repent. (Genesis 6:3)
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
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I have to be honest, for years Matthew 24:39 used to really bother me:
"People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes." (Matthew 24:39)
Although it was only up until I found the truth about our loving God. His kingdom grants to us unmeddling and non-coercive liberty for us to commit ourselves to Him, or to turn from Him. Which brings forth sincere love. Also, and most importantly...
1) If he had told them what was coming, these people would've gone with Noah only to save their own hides. Not out of sincerity or love toward God.
2) It is, and was, against the constraints of His character (and therefore impossible) for Him to tell them "Follow me or die". That's exactly what He would have been saying if He told them. God does not force people to their knees with ultimatums. Warning that their sins would have terrible consequences brought upon themselves (what Noah did) is different than telling them that they were going to be destroyed if they didn't follow Him.
3) God HAD to do this Himself to preserve His Word and to protect His faithful (Noah). Here, God proves what he says is true by His actions.
"...the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” (1 Peter 1:24-25)
The Lord preserved His Word as promised, keeping the faith in existence through Noah, and his family. The same faith that we share today bringing us salvation through grace by Jesus Christ.
