Matthew 24:39

Universal was the doom. Neither rich nor poor escaped: the learned and the illiterate, the admired and the abhorred, the religious and the profane, the old and the young—all sank in one common ruin. Some had doubtless ridiculed the patriarch—where now are their merry jests? Others had threatened him for his zeal, which they considered madness—where now are their boastings and hard speeches?

The critic who judged the old man’s work is drowned in the same sea that covers his sneering companions. Those who spoke patronizingly of the good man’s fidelity to his convictions, but did not share in them, have sunk, never to rise again. The workers who, for pay, helped to build the wondrous ark are also all lost.

The flood swept them all away, and made no single exception. Even so, apart from Christ, final destruction is certain for everyone born of woman; no rank, possession, or character will be enough to save a single soul who has not believed in the Lord Jesus. My soul, behold this widespread judgment and tremble at it.

How marvelous the general apathy! They were all eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the awful morning dawned. There was not one wise man on earth outside the ark. Folly duped the whole race—folly regarding self-preservation, the most foolish of all follies. Folly in doubting the most true God—the most malignant of follies. Strange, my soul, is it not? All people are negligent of their souls until grace gives them reason; then they leave their madness and act like rational beings, but not until then.

All, blessed be God, were safe in the ark; no ruin entered there. From the huge elephant down to the tiny mouse, all were safe. The timid hare was as secure as the courageous lion, the helpless rabbit as safe as the hardworking ox. All are safe in Jesus. My soul, are you in Him?