It had been a very long 120 years for Noah and his family as they spent every waking minute building the massive ark according to God’s instructions. There had been no sign of flood rains that warranted a boat to escape on and the people laughed him to scorn. But Noah didn’t get upset because his trust and allegiance was to God, not to the people. He knew the day would come; he never doubted it once. And when the day of reckoning finally came, he blew the horn and his family entered the ark. Then all the different kinds of animals came in pairs and raced into the boat—all except the snail that seemed to move slower than time.

When Noah saw that all the animals and birds were inside the ark except for the snail, he did not panic and he did not get angry. He waited patiently because he knew that God was still in charge. The snail was as important to the earth’s future as the other animals, and so God waited until that last little creature was on board before He let the rains come.

This story of Noah is really a prelude to what’s about to happen again on this earth. Jesus is getting ready to return to this earth and rule over it as King. And He is about to rid the world of sin just as He did in the time of Noah. But He’s waiting until that last person gives their heart to Him. And that person maybe last, but their life is as valuable to God as the first person, and so He waits patiently.

We’re told in Luke 21:24 that Jesus will return when the time of the Gentiles is over. When Jesus came to live among us, He came to the Jews because it was their ancestor Abraham who God gave the promise of salvation to. And so, He was faithful and gave His life so that the Jews could be freed of their sin and live forever with Him. But as we know, the Jewish nation as a whole refused to accept Jesus as their promised Messiah even though the prophecies spoke of this time with great detail. And so God told Peter and Paul to take the gospel to the nations of the Gentiles so they could receive this gift of salvation.

• But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.—Romans 2:10

God had promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations because He would also offer the gift of salvation to the Gentiles. It’s God’s plan that the Gentiles who receive Jesus will encourage the Jewish people, pray for them and share the gospel with them so they can realize that Jesus IS the Messiah, and so they can know that there’s still time to receive Him as their Savior.

• “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Then Abram fell on his face and God talked with him, saying: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.“—Genesis 17:2-4 NKJV

This world is moving faster every day towards God’s judgment! Sin is becoming a norm that is deceiving even many Christians who don’t have His truth deep inside their hearts. Yet, God is patient because He knows already who will look to Jesus as their Messiah and He will wait for that last person to come in—and that day is not too far away so get ready because our redemption is very near.

• And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.—Luke 21:28

When will that time be? No one knows the day or the time, but we do know the signs that show us He’s coming soon. Jesus gave them to us so we can be ready to receive Him as our King. He didn’t give them to us so we would wait in fear of that dreadful day, but rather, so that we would wait with joy and hope. Jesus is coming back and we’ll see Him coming in the clouds with all of His angels. And when He sits on His throne in Jerusalem there won’t be any more sin or sickness on this earth and it will stay that way for a thousand years. We are excited and we wait expectantly for that great day…..and it’s coming soon!

But in the meantime, we share His gospel and show His love to everyone we can—while there is still time. The world seems to be out of control, but it’s out of men’s control; it’s NOT out of God’s control. He is about to return and change everything!

And just as Noah waited patiently for that snail to finally arrive, so God is waiting for that last person to come to the cross. We don’t know the time, but we do know by signs that Jesus gave us that’s it closer than we think.

So look up, everyone! Our redemption is near. Jesus is getting ready to return as King!

He which testifieth these things saith, “Surely I come quickly.”

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.—Revelations 22:20

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