For 40 days and nights, it rained as God had decreed (Gen. 7:4). It is likely no one had ever seen rain at that point, so what is rain if you’ve never seen it? Noah’s faith lead him to build “an ark to the saving of his house” (Heb. 11:7). His actions are the definition of faith—taking God at His word. Did his neighbors think he was crazy? Surely they must have— “What’s rain?”, but he preached to them anyway (II Pet. 2:5). Why? Because of the wickedness of mankind (Gen. 6:5) with the only hope of salvation then and now coming from God.
And so it rained. For 40 days and nights it rained (Gen. 7:12), but the flood of waters kept swelling long after for 150 days (7:24). Hard to imagine such a catastrophic event affecting the whole world; remember God said it would happen, and it did. No matter how difficult it might be for the world around to believe it, God’s word has proven true time after time. Even when His servants have been regarded as crazy (Acts 26:24-25), God’s word, the Truth, has continued to be proven true.
It’s very narrow minded, but only the saved were found in the ark. Out of all the world’s population at the time, only eight souls were saved (I Pet. 3:20). For one year they were housed in the ark with all terrestrial life (Gen. 7:11-8:4). The seagoing creatures and water-bound life could survive outside. Those in the ark had surrendered to God’s control and were bound by commitment so long as He determined.
The flood came on God’s schedule and without warning as man would appraise it, but God had warned by the foolishness of preaching (I Cor. 1:21) those who believed. Jesus said: “as in the days of Noah, so shall the coming of the son of man be” (Matt. 24:37). The end of the earth will come in the same manner, and the warnings are being delivered now by faithful preaching. Men, women, boys, and girls were surprised then, and will be surprised when Christ returns for the end of time. No showers of rain then, but the thunder of His voice all will hear (John 5:28-29). No delegation of the duty, Christ himself shall return (I Thess. 4:16-18). What then? A time of accounting before the righteous Judge (Matt. 25; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-15). What will your answer be?
It’s very narrow minded, but true, the only saved in the end of time will be found in the ark of safety, the Lord’s church, the house of God (I Thess. 4:16-18; I Tim. 3:15). Most of the world rejects such a notion just as they did in the time of Noah long ago, but that will not change God’s plan and schedule one iota.
The fact is, it’s gonna rain! The rain of the end will be fire as all will be burned up (II Pet. 3:10). The great question comes in this statement: “Therefore, since all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (3:11). There’s a great day coming, are you ready? It’s gonna rain!
-David Hill, President of Tennessee Bible College
