Noah & the Ark

That's what our Sunday School lesson was about this last Sunday. Teaching was a stretch for me, since I didn't know I was teaching until Wednesday afternoon & there just isn't a spare minute in my schedule right now. But, in the end, it came together okay.

While I was preparing, I started thinking about the story from a new viewpoint. What was it like to be one of those standing outside the ark when the rain began to fall? They had laughed & mocked for years as Noah built his big boat, gathered all of the animals and climbed aboard with his family, all the while warning of God's impending judgment. And, suddenly, God closed the door, and the rain began to fall.

I'm guessing their mocking and laughter came to a sudden halt. As the water level began to rise dramatically, I can imagine hoards of people pounding on the side of the boat, begging Noah to let them in, to save them. But God had given them a chance. Lots of chances, in fact. And they had ignored every one. Then He closed the door. The chances were over. It was too late. And now they were ready to listen.

It was a sobering lesson for our teens. They, too, have had lots of opportunities to respond to God's warnings of judgment. And like the people of Noah's time, some of them are more prone to mock or laugh than they are to accept the one way God has provided to escape destruction. Others just figure they can enjoy themselves for one more day, one more party, one more... But, the day is coming when God will close the door, and it will be too late. I just pray that they won't have to feel the raindrops falling on their head before they realize that God isn't joking when He promises to judge sin.