Billy
Graham Warns 'the Days of Noah Are Returning to the Earth'
History
records for all to see that nations have been destroyed not by enemies from
without, but by the deterioration that is evidenced by immorality, dishonesty, greed and pride from within.
Apparently,
some of us living today have come to the point where we do not know where
Christianity stops and where modern society begins. The good life has become
inseparable from the maximum possible consumption of things.
We
even have a muddled conception of Christianity. We accept a religion in
general, presided over by a God in general, with extremely hazy ideas about
what it all means. But since this seems to be the popular view, we are quite
undisturbed about it and flit about in our little orbits, blissfully unaware of
the frightening tragedy occurring.
The
Bible many times warns that toward the end of history as we know it, there will
be a return to pre-flood conditions of gross sin and wickedness.
The
Scripture says concerning the people of Noah's
day, "Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually" (Gen. 6:5).
Christ
referred to this condition in Matthew 24 when He said, "As the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of
Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the
day that Noah entered the ark, and
did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be" (Matt. 24:37-39).
As
the great Day of Judgment draws ever nearer, we see these very things happening
about us. It would seem that we were reading from an article in a modern
magazine as we read Paul's word to Timothy, "But
know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be
lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,
without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but
denying its power. And from such people turn away!" (2 Tim. 3:1-5).
This
certainly leaves no room for doubt as to what the world is going to be like
just before the climactic event
that will ring the curtain down on history.
Many
people are asking—are we living in the closing days? I do not know. The closing
days of history may be 100 years or 1,000 years from now. But there are many
indications that we are now living in the closing period of history, and we are
warned from the Scriptures that we are to repent and return to Christ as that
day draws nearer.
All
ancient civilizations have gone down to destruction through sin. Rome went on a
gigantic spree toward the end of her history—just as the world has been doing
now for the past several years. Nero committed suicide in A.D. 68; Rome's
overthrow came more than 400 years later. One moment, almost omnipotent power
was within Rome's grasp; and the next, destruction.
The
world today is heading the same way. Immorality and uncleanness occupied the
minds of Roman rulers and of antediluvians. So today, we see a
world saturated
with sexual sins in places high and low.
A
few years ago the sensibilities of intelligent, clean-minded citizens were
shocked and startled. Now familiarity has bred a measure of contempt. Protests
are of no avail, and they are ignored by those who have deliberately chosen the
way of sin and death.
The
days of Noah are returning to the Earth, and a catastrophe as great and terrible
awaits those who refuse to enter into the ark of salvation, which is Jesus
Christ.
Noah
found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Here was one of the great men of all the
ages, God's chosen man, the one person who had remained true to God amid a
scoffing, sin-stricken world. One by one, Noah's friends and relatives who
believed in God died before the flood came.
The
carpenters who helped him build the ark were
themselves eventually lost. This
is a warning to millions who belong to the church today. You are helping to
build the church but have never really known Christ as Lord and Savior.
We
are reminded of the words of our Lord when He warned that there would be those
in the latter day crying out, "Many
will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name,
cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I
will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!'" (Matt.
7:22-23).
There
are thousands of people today who think they are saved, who have a false notion
that they can be Christians and live any way they like. In their manner of
living, they are indistinguishable from the world.
It
is true that they attend church with some regularity and do many good works,
but they are not resting in the blood of Jesus Christ for their salvation, and
they are not doing the works of faith that are required as an evidence of one's
relationship with God.
The
Bible says there will come a day when we shall call upon God, but He will not
answer. There will come a day when we will seek God, but we will not find Him.
The Bible teaches that we will have had our chance.
The
Bible warns against hardening our hearts against God. The Bible warned the
people of Noah's day, "My Spirit
shall not strive with man forever" (Gen. 6:3).
You
cannot come to Jesus Christ unless the Spirit of God brings you, and unless you
yield to the prompting and urging of the Holy Spirit. I beg of you to come to
Christ while there is yet time.
There
was not one soul outside the ark who did not perish. They had had their chance
but tossed it away. There were hundreds that day who were close to the ark and
yet lost.
This
fearful scene from the Bible is a prototype, a shadow of that day of judgment
that lies before our world. The Bible says, "It
is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Heb.
9:27).
The
ark is a symbol of Jesus Christ. In this day, when the clouds of judgment are
beginning to gather, Christ is the refuge. You must cross the threshold and
pass
into the ark.
Accept
Christ now as your Savior before it is too late.
Are
you in? You may be close, but are you inside? The universal and terrible storm
is coming. The days of Noah may be soon upon us. Are you ready for the Day of
Judgment?
Even
if the world does not end in your lifetime in a cataclysmic judgment, the
moment you die will be the end of the world for you. The world that you live in
will die with you. Are you ready for death? Are you ready for the judgment that
is to come the
moment you
step out into eternity?
History
repeats itself. What happened thousands of years ago will happen again. There
is a possibility it could happen in this century or even in this decade.
However, while there is life, there is hope.
The
Spirit of God is knocking faithfully at the door. If we repent, mend our ways
and throw off our sins, we can yet be used of God to bring healing and help to
a dying civilization.
Let
me ask you—do you
know Christ? He is the only One who can
redeem us. But before He can come in, we must be broken, repentant and
contrite. The Lord will not despise a broken and a contrite heart.
The
Bible says that during Israel's crisis, God sought for a man who would stand in
the gap, but He found none (Ezek. 22:30). Will you be one who will stand in the
gap to stop the floodtide of evil that is deluging the world?
Are you struggling
with a big decision or wondering how your eternal future will play out?
Why not talk to the
God of the universe and let Him work in your behalf?
He says, “I will instruct you and teach you the way
you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask God to show you
what to do. Pray the following prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner and my sins have separated
me from You. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and begin a new
life with You.
Please forgive me. I now receive your Son, Jesus Christ
as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and confess that Jesus Christ
died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has provided
for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the
Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).
I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Way, the
Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my heart
and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you have given me eternal life, and
according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy
Spirit that is in me now. I surrender my life to You.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus Name. Amen.”
Related Posts:
“Though
Your Sins Be as Scarlet”
lyrics
1 "Though your
sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow.
Though they be red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
Though your sins be as scarlet,
though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow,
they shall be as white as snow."
they shall be as white as snow;
though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow.
Though they be red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
Though your sins be as scarlet,
though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow,
they shall be as white as snow."
2 Hear the voice
that entreats you,
O return ye unto God!
Hear the voice that entreats you,
O return ye unto God!
He is great compassion,
and of wondrous love.
Hear the voice that entreats you,
hear the voice that entreats you,
O return ye unto God!
O return ye unto God!
O return ye unto God!
Hear the voice that entreats you,
O return ye unto God!
He is great compassion,
and of wondrous love.
Hear the voice that entreats you,
hear the voice that entreats you,
O return ye unto God!
O return ye unto God!
3 He'll forgive your
transgressions,
and remember them no more:
he'll forgive your transgressions,
and remember them no more.
"Look unto me, ye people,"
saith the Lord your God.
He'll forgive your transgressions,
he'll forgive your transgression,
and remember them no more,
and remember them no more.
and remember them no more:
he'll forgive your transgressions,
and remember them no more.
"Look unto me, ye people,"
saith the Lord your God.
He'll forgive your transgressions,
he'll forgive your transgression,
and remember them no more,
and remember them no more.
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