These scriptures present the global flood in the days of Noah to be a literal and historical fact. References made to it throughout God's Word. And it stands out as a distinct and significant event in the history of man. Certainly it does stand out in the sense that at that time the entire world's population was destroyed apart from Noah and his family. But the scriptures also present the flood as a most important lesson for a people of all ages, particularly those living before the return of Christ. Our Lord himself referred to the flood and he emphasized that there are lessons to be learned from it that apply to our present day. We see that in our text for this evening in verse 26. It says, And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. Here our Lord was teaching that the conditions of society leading up to the flood will be similar to those leading up to his return and to the end of the world. We read that men will be continuing on living their life. They will continue on enjoying sin and following the course of the world without a thought of God, right up to the very point when their life will be cut off by the Lord. Such thoughts remind us of the rich fool who is spoken of in one of the parables of our Lord, who was continuing on in his life, enjoying himself, until one day his life ended and God stepped in. How important it is for us then to observe the true meaning of the flood in the days of Noah, for it was a manifestation of the judgment of God. And this judgment, while being in a physical nature, for we read that the entire world was covered with water, and apart from those eight in the ark, all were destroyed. While this judgment was physical in nature, Yet it actually highlighted the judgment that is far more fearful and far more dreadful than mere physical death. For all those who were lost in Noah's flood were damned to eternal hell. We read in 1 Peter 3 in the verse 19 of the spirits in prison. a reference to those people who lived at the time of Noah, who died in the flood, and whose souls are at this very moment in hell and in the torments of God's eternal judgment. And therefore, the global flood of Noah's day stands out in history as a great warning great warning to all men of the consequences of rejecting the Lord and of the dreadful end of sinners. It tells men of the reality of hell and of all men's accountability to God and of course those things are denied these days. You hear it often, men and women will say, there isn't really a hell. I can live my life how I want, and yet the global flood is telling men that there is a hell, that there is accountability to God. And sinner tonight, do you understand that the danger that was present for these men and women who lived in Noah's day is the exact danger that you are in this very evening? see, you need to realize that Noah's flood is warning you of the fact that the very same thing is going to happen to you if you continue on to live in the way that you're living. Living for sin, living for the pleasure of the world, living in a manner that shows within your heart you have rejected God, and that may well be the case even though you are here in this meeting tonight. While you may be here in God's house, while you may have heard the gospel many times, in your heart, in your heart, there is still rebellion. There is still resistance to God and to his word. And the solemn reality for you is that if you never repent, God's word makes it clear to you that God's judgment is going to fall upon you. is going to come. Those in Noah's day were living their life, and the floods came. And it is true that the same thing will happen to you if you do not heed the warnings of God. I want you to consider with me this evening, from God's Word, lessons for the sinner from Noah's flood. Lessons for the sinner from Noah's flood. And I want you to see, firstly, that it tells us how awful sin is. It tells us how awful sin is. If you turn back to Genesis chapter 6, where we read earlier in the service, and you will see what I'm referring to. Genesis chapter 6 and the verse 5. Genesis chapter 6 and the verse 5, it says, And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth. that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And then look down with me at verse 11. The earth also was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence and God looked upon the earth and behold it was corrupt for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. Now perhaps when considering the event of the flood You have been shocked when you consider what really happened. Yes, it's true that the entire population, except for eight, were destroyed. And such a thought immediately fills men and women's heart with indignation and anger at God for doing such a thing. while the thought of the huge loss of life may horrify us. Let us rather consider this evening the horrible reason for such a judgment. Have you ever considered why it was that God dealt with the world in the days of Noah in the way that he did? You see, mankind is plagued with the fault of always blaming others for his calamities. rather than actually considering his own actions and his own heart. Is that not true? We're so quick to blame another person for our fault or to blame a situation for the way we behaved, and rarely do we ever take responsibility for our own actions. And yet the reality is that man's sin, man's sin, while being excusable in his own mind, actually offensive, awful, and inexcusable in the sight of God. And yes, that is true tonight of your sin too. Oh yes, God looks upon your life and he sees your sin, and it is not something that he takes pleasure in. is rather something that is offensive and awful in his sight. You will notice from verse 5 that God's omniscience sees man's sin. We read there that God saw God saw. His all-knowing eye looks out upon the whole earth and he sees all sin, both open and secret. Nothing is hid from God's all-knowing eye. All of man's wickedness and sin is taken in by one look, and that is the sense of those words when it says God saw. God took it all in with one look. God takes in man's wickedness, he understands it, he sees it all. Nothing is hid from God. But this omniscience extends not only to the outward action of men, but it also extends to the condition of the heart. You see, that's the difference between us and God. We can only assess a person in the outward action, and yet God sees the heart. God sees the true motive, the true state of man. And the Lord observed that man's whole imagination, that is his intent, his desire, his purpose in life, was devoted entirely every day to sin. What a dreadful thought that is, that every day when men and women wake up, entire purpose of life is that to fulfill themselves in sin. Man's heart is totally corrupted and totally depraved. Scripture speaks of him as being desperately wicked. In Proverbs chapter 6, it speaks of six things that God hates, and one of those things is this, a heart that devises wicked imaginations. And people tonight, that is speaking of the heart. Where does sin come from? It's from the heart. It is from the evil heart that flows all of men's actual sins. Do you realize tonight that such a thought completely destroys the idea of outward form religion? It destroys the idea of coming to church each Sunday and partaking of religion because God is not interested in whether or not you come along to church. He's interested in the state of your heart. It's the heart that really matters, and God's omniscient eye sees it all, but then notices well that God's holiness abhors man's sin. We read in verse 6, and it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. You see, the sin of man is grieving to a holy God, because God is pure. He is without sin. He did not make man to live in such an awful manner. God created man to glorify him and to enjoy him forever. And so as God looks upon the earth and he sees man and he sees him in rebellion against the Lord and he sees him living in sin, it is a grieving thing to a holy God. You see, man himself is responsible for the entrance of sin into the world and of all the sorrows that it has bought. Sin is an awful thing to God. You turn with me to 2 Peter 2, in the verse 5, and you will see this point very clearly. 2 Peter 2, in the verse 5. 2 Peter 2, in the verse 5, and it's speaking of the days of Noah, says, "...and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly." There's God's assessment of the world in Noah's day. It was not a world of godliness and of holiness. No, rather, it was a world of ungodliness. And It was a world of sin, and how true it is that today, when the Lord looks upon the world, he sees a world of ungodliness. And it is only when we appreciate the infinite holiness of God that the awfulness of our sin is revealed. And perhaps tonight, perhaps tonight, there is the issue for you. sitting in this meeting and you feel no need to come to Christ, you feel no need for the gospel, because within your heart you do not really see the sin that lies within. You do not really see the great need you have, because you are a sinner before God. And let me submit to you that that is because you have never truly seen the glory and the holiness of God. Is that why you think that you're a good person tonight? Is that perhaps why you're excusing your sin, thinking it's not really that big of an issue? Because you do not know God's law, and you do not know the infinite perfection of the character of God, who cannot even look upon sin. You see, in the eyes of a holy God, sin is an awful thing. But then secondly, I want you to see with me that the flood of Noah's day, it also tells us that sin cannot continue on indefinitely. Sin cannot continue on indefinitely. You turn with me to Matthew chapter 24. Matthew chapter 24. Matthew 24, verse 36. Matthew 24 in the verse 36, it says, "'But of that day and hour knoweth no man, "'no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. "'But as the days of Noah were, "'so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. "'For as in the days that were before the flood, "'they were eating and drinking, "'marrying and giving in marriage, "'until the day that Noah entered into the ark. and knew not until the flood came and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." Sin cannot continue on indefinitely. These words here before us are most certainly striking. They demonstrate the fact that man is not an autonomous being. He is rather God's creation and is therefore responsible to God. In other words, man ultimately is accountable to God for all that he does. And this accountability is manifested in that one day, one day all people will be judged by the Lord, their deeds will be assessed. before God's holy standard and law. Romans 2 in the verse 16 speaks of a day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. You see, men and women claim that there is no accountability because God hasn't done anything right now. They're living their life and they're sinning and nothing's happening, and so they think, well, I'm not accountable. And yet God's word shows that there is coming a day. Man's actions now are being observed by God and one day those actions will be brought to account. And this day of accountability, this day of judgment is Christ's subject here in Matthew 24. And our Lord is comparing this day in this verses to the days of Noah. Look there, it says in verse 37, but as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. And you will notice with me that Christ teaches that it's an unexpected day. Look there in verse 39, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away. An unexpected day. You see, those who perished in the flood were continuing on with life as usual, ignoring the fact that their judgment was coming. And when the day of the flood came, they were unprepared. They were not ready, they were caught unawares by circumstances they did not count on. And what an awful thought that is. when the day of judgment comes men and women will be caught unexpected, they'll be caught unawares. Did not our Lord compare this day of judgment to a thief who breaks in unawares, unexpected. You see the day of judgment comes upon the wicked and it cuts them off in their life. a very time when they are least expecting it. These people in the days of Noah were continuing on and the words of verse 38 there of Matthew 24 suggest to us that life was carrying on as normal. It was just another day at the office as they say, but this day was not like any other day. Is it true of you tonight? that you are going to be found on that day to be unprepared, to be one who was not expecting it, to be caught out, to be surprised, to be found in a position, in circumstances that you didn't count on. And you cannot claim that you are unaware, for I'm telling you of it this very night. yet is it going to be the case with you that when that day comes, you are unexpecting of that day? But Christ also teaches that it's an appointed day. In verse 36 he says, But of that day in our north no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. You see, God has appointed this day. Just as God had determined that the sinfulness of man in Noah's day would be cut off, so too God has appointed a day when the sin of this world will be come to a close. God's long-suffering is going to end and his justice will be exercised. And while this day is known to God, for it says the Father knows, oh yes, God knows when this day is, But none of us know when this day will be. This day, while appointed by God, is unknown to men. And does that not then emphasize to you and to me this evening the importance of the time that God has given to you? The importance of the life that you have. That you would get right with God, that you would settle these matters of eternity. Oh, it is true that we treat time so tryfully. Is it not true of you tonight that you have done so by coming in and probably sitting in many meetings just like this one and doing nothing about the state of your soul? And in many ways you are showing by your actions that you believe that time is a commodity that you have much of. But let me ask you tonight, how do you know that? Do you know whether or not you're going to live through tomorrow? Do you know how much time you have left in your life? None of you, if you're honest, can say. And yet, you're here and you're rejecting the gospel. Do we not read in Acts 17 and verse 31 that God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness? Do you not realize that there is an appointed day that you're going to have to face? There's coming a day when your life is going to come to a close. There's an end that's coming, and you cannot avoid it. Your life of sin is going to cease. And at that very moment, the judgment of God is going to come in. And let me ask you tonight, what are you doing about that? Because if you're unsaved tonight up to this point, you have been avoiding it, you've been pushing it to the side, you've been considering it something of little importance, and yet do you not understand tonight that this day is coming quickly upon you? You're going to have to face it. And if you're not right with God, you're going to pass into an eternity in hell. Oh yes, this is how serious this is. Your life of sin cannot continue on indefinitely. There is coming a day of accountability. We've noticed that the flood tells us how awful sin is. It tells us that sin cannot continue on indefinitely. But then thirdly and lastly this evening, it tells us that it is foolish to ignore the warnings of future judgment. It is foolish to ignore the warnings of future judgment. You see, those in Noah's day were not unawares or ignorant of the impending judgment. They had seen the ark being built. They had heard the preaching of Noah. Scripture shows to us that the ark was built over a period of less than 100 years. significant period of time. It also reveals to us that Noah was a faithful preacher, a preacher of righteousness. We read of the faith of Noah in Hebrews 11 and the verse 7. It says, By faith Noah built an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world. And that expression shows to us that as Noel was going about every day, building that ark, it was testifying to the world that judgment is coming. Every nail that he nailed, so to speak, every plank that was put in, was sending a message to the world of his day. The judgment was being warned. The ark testified to the reality of the flood and the necessity to prepare for it by entering into the ark. Oh yes, the people of those days, they were not ignorant. They were not unaware. They just rejected it. They ignored it. They laughed it off. like so many in the days in which we live. He would laugh and mock at a gospel preacher. He would put it off. He would walk out of a meeting such as this one and forget everything that was said. And yet in the face of such evidence, Think of the evidence that the people of Noah's day had, and the gracious provision of deliverance that the ark offered. All people except eight were saved. Is that not a dreadful thought? You see, this demonstrates to us the fact that men in sin are inexcusable. Do we not read in 2 Peter 3, that men and women in Noah's day were willingly ignorant. And those words are quite interesting, for they express the thought of being quick to forget. It actually also has the sense of being dumb on purpose. You see, these are strong words, but it's presenting to us this great truth of the inexcusableness of man. that even to the point of being dumb on purpose, men would be willingly ignorant of the great truth of the coming judgment, that they would be quick to forget. I wonder if that describes you tonight, that you're quick to forget. Oh, I'm sure that I'm speaking to someone here tonight who's quick to forget. yes, you don't forget the dates of your birthdays and your family, you don't forget the names of your family members, you don't forget the dates you have to meet in your life, but oh yes, you'll forget this date, because your heart is set against God. Do you realize that in such a condition, when you stand before God, you will have no excuse? If God would send you to hell, and I pray that not would be the case. But oh yes, if you continue on in this manner of life, that will be your lot. And you will be one of those who, like these people in Noah's day, were willingly ignorant. Oh yes, people in these days continue to purposely, to foolishly forget it. thus they miss the great lessons that Noah's flood teach us. Are you ignoring the warnings tonight? Because do not be mistaken, and love, I am warning you tonight, that there is a day that is coming that Do you realize that there is no reasonable explanation to reject Jesus Christ? There was no reasonable explanation for those in Noah's day to reject the message that he preached and to refuse to enter the ark. Like the ark of old, Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. But you must enter in. You must take it as your own. no good just looking at the ark. Those in Noah's day had to go into the ark, showing that they trusted it, that they believed it could save them, that they rested their very life in the safety that that ark gave. And is that not a wonderful picture of what it means to be a Christian? to rest yourself in Jesus Christ, to trust Him, to place your very life into His hands, to cry out as those of old cried out, have mercy upon me, a sinner. That's what it means to be a Christian. Do not be mistaken into thinking that a Christian is just a person who goes to church every Sunday and who reads their Bible and prays a few times and tries to live a good moral life. Or no, Christianity, the word of God presents being a believer, a Christian as a person who has been radically transformed. Their heart has been changed. There's been a change of affections and attitude. been born again. As our Lord Jesus Christ put it, they've turned from rejecting the Lord, they've repented, and they've believed the gospel. They've seen Christ as the object of their affection and their love, and they flee to him that they might flee from the wrath to come. if there is but one message for you tonight, it is the words of the Apostle Paul to the Philippian jailer. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. You see, your resistance and your ignorance needs to end tonight. If you care for your soul, if you care for Whether or not you're going to end up in heaven or hell, then you need to deal with this tonight. And the Word of God is showing to you that judgment is coming, and the only way to avoid it is to flee to Jesus Christ, and to believe on Him with all your heart, and to forsake the sin that you're holding onto right now, because that sin is going to take you to hell. And you need to forsake it. leave it behind. Do you realize that when Noah and his family walked onto that ark, they forsook the world? They went into that ark, turned their back upon the world in which they lived. And that's what you need to do. There needs to be a forsaking of sin, a forsaking of the pleasures of this world. Do we not read of Moses, that he rejected the pleasures of sin for a season. He chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God. He saw the riches of Christ's far better gain. Is that the case with you tonight? That when you view Jesus Christ and you see what he is and who he is and what he can do for you, save you and deliver you from hell, that you just see these other things as nothing? You enter in to faith in Jesus Christ. I leave that with you tonight. I pray that God's word will have come to you clearly. If you're not saved, tonight is the night you need to get right with God. If you want to speak to me after the service, I'd be willing to speak to you or any others here that you trust, you feel comfortable speaking to. We're entered into a new year. Is this gonna be another year where you continue on as you were? Yet this may well be the year you're ushered into eternity. It's time to seek the Lord. It's time to get right with God.