Luke 17:26 English Standard Version (ESV) Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.

The people that were taken in the flood of Noah’s days did not have any idea what a flood was or that it was coming. Noah was warned and prepared.

We are warned about the coming of the days of the Son of Man. It will not be another flood for God has promised but the warnings signs are given to us in order for us to prepare.

What do we do if we know a flood is coming? We look to protect those things we care about the most. In a water flood we take stock of the things that are irreplaceable first. We have spent a lifetime together and over the years there will be things that we will miss if we do not attempt to take them with us.

This coming flood will not be one of water yet the sense of loss is the same. So we should examine that which is dear to us and do everything we can to try and take them with us. Have our children accepted Christ? Have our siblings accepted Christ? Have our dearest friends found Christ?

We will not to be allowed to take our photographs, books, records or jewelry with us come this next flood. We will see at some point that we are to be taken up in safety ourselves and then it will be too late to gather our cares.

Now comes the more difficult caring. Have you shown Jesus to those you hate? Jesus loves them even if we do not. Nothing is going to change what is coming, but we might be able to make a difference in a life that is being lived out in these days. Luke 17:26 says the days of the Son of Man which leads us to believe that even as we see that day approach there is still time to tell others of Jesus Christ.

Titus 3:14 English Standard Version (ESV) And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

What does our urgent needs look like today?

Urgent needs change over time as we survive one calamity after another. In our earliest stages of salvation our urgent needs were for a Savior. We knew we were lost and our need for salvation took first place. Then as we were fed and clothed we became comfortable if not complacent with our salvation.

Then we needed to love and we found a place within community to share our love and fellowship began to strengthen our bonds of love and we grew. As we grew our sphere of influence grew and we found we could be used to serve a wider place in His Kingdom. Then we saw our calling and met more and more needy peoples.

We met needs and saw they neglected their own salvation and we felt used. We looked to our bibles and saw how Jesus was abused and felt that connection.We must be in league with righteousness because we suffer as Christ suffered. We got comfortable with being used and felt God was at work even if we did not see results.

At some point we got so busy with the work that we neglected our own daily salvation simply because we had long ago lost that sense of urgency when we first came to Christ. Maturity brings us closer to Christ and a terrible things happens in our flesh that we did not notice happen.

My daughter’s words ring out and crippled my soul this morning. “I don’t need to be fathered anymore.”

Luke 23:34 English Standard Version (ESV) And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

In our haste to grab our tiny bit of His righteousness, we have forgotten where forgiveness begins and neglected to confess and admit we need to be Fathered.