For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24:37-39

When most people hear of Noah they think of the Flood or maybe The Ark Experience not far from where we live, but Jesus used the picture of Noah to describe the state of mankind at the end of days. Those days will be marked not only by Jesus’ return, but judgment as He sets all things right again.

I remember when each of our kids was born and the hopes and dreams we had for them when they were young. In the same way, when Noah was born, his father Lamech described the peace he hoped his newborn son would bring to mankind – “Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands”(Genesis 5:28).

My study Bible says that Noah’s name is taken from the Hebrew word for peace or rest and through his life, Noah did ultimately bring rest as he brought God’s judgment. He was born for such a time and would grow into “a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9).

It’s not a mistake that we live in these days either. While we may not be asked to build an ark, there is something for each of us to do, a life to lead well as we honor God.