Today I want to talk about a warning Jesus gave for the end time.
He said the last days would be like the days of Noah and the days of Lot.
Not much is known about why the people of Noah's day were destroyed.
The account in Genesis says only that the imagination of their thoughts was continually evil.
Some says it's because of their atheism, or maybe because of inappropriate behaviour between humans and angelic beings.
But Jesus had a radically different explanation.
He said they were marrying...
Sweetie, I love you more than anything else in the world. You're my reason for living.
Oh I know, darling! Nothing will be more important than our relationship.
A home, kids, a car, your job...
They were buying and selling.
Help...
You should start a business, and then people will give you money.
I'd like to help, but money doesn't grow on trees.
Yep! Money makes the world go round! Let's try the next shop.
They were eating and drinking.
Hey honey, don't you think we should go check out what Noah is building?
Some other time, dear. We have a dinner engagement and I don't want to be late.
It was the same in the days of Lot. They were planting.
Hi Abraham!
Hey! Can you donate some food to the orphans?
How much will you give me for it?
I told God that I could find some righteous people. Won't you do it for love?
Love doesn't put food on the table; my hard work does!
They were building.
Hey Abraham!
Hey! Don't you think God would be pleased if we built a shelter for the homeless?
Yeah, that would be great... except I'm already building this mall. Maybe later!
Hey Lot! Where are you running off to?!
Are you crazy?! Look at the sky! It's time to go!
But we can't just leave all our stuff behind...
So why was Jesus' answer so different? He talked about normal, everyday activities...
not atheism, genetic manipulation or sexual sins.
Jesus was famous for examining an issue and coming to radically different conclusions from everyone else.
Just look at all these sins!
Oh I know! It's absolutely ghastly!
The people guilty of these sins will definitely go to hell.
Hey wait! These things can be sins too!
Oh whatever!
There are many examples where Jesus taught contrary to popular belief.
It's not what goes into your mouth that makes you unclean, but what comes out of the heart.
The leaders of the world want to be great by exercising their power
but the greatest will be the servant.
Love your enemies and do good to those who hurt you.
Still not convinced that Jesus believed these issues to be the real problems of Noah and Lot's day?
Check out this parable!
There once was a king who made a great feast and invited many guests.
All the preparations are ready. This is so exciting!
Here, Lord!
Go and tell the guests to come now.
Yes, Lord!
The party is ready! The king wants you to come now.
Oh, that's nice! But I can't come now.
I need to fix the wagon so I can test these new cows I just bought.
But the king wants you to come NOW.
I'm sure the king will understand that I want to be a good steward of the blessings he's given me.
Tell him I'll come later.
The party is ready; it's time to go!
Oh, what terrible timing! I'm rushing to the bank now to buy this new piece of land.
I don't think the king will be happy if you refuse.
I'm not refusing! The king knows my heart. Tell him I'll come later after I've finished my business.
The party is ready! The king wants you to--
No no! It's our honeymoon and we've got a lovely evening planned.
Yes, tell him we'll be along shortly.
When the servants reported these things to their Lord
he was very angry that the guests were too busy for him, and declared that they were no longer invited.
It's not that things like marriage, planting, building, buying and selling, or eating and drinking are wrong in themselves
but that people had stopped caring about what God wanted.
Jesus wanted to cut through all the distractions which blind us to the really important issues in life.
It's easy to be self-righteous about the sins of others
but the most serious sins are those which appear to be normal, everyday activities.
This theme is found all throughout the gospels.
The cares and pleasures of life choke the plants.
The rich fool who built bigger barns.
The rich man goes to hell while the poor man is rewarded.
Don't store treasures on earth.
The people of Noah and Lot's day had become indifferent.
They were no longer concerned about the consequences of their behaviour
their desires, their greed, or their Creator.
All the problems had become normal.
This is why Jesus said their destruction was swift.
They had become blind leaders of the blind.
How about you?