The recent movie Noah has generated a lot of buzz. We have given it a fair amount of coverage this week on Beyond Today. Frankly, I had decided I was done commenting on the subject. But I have changed my mind.

I read again this morning what Jesus Christ had to say about Noah. Reading the passage from Matthew 24 reminded me this is the key lesson and perhaps the “final word” on the subject. Listen to what Christ said about Noah in his major prophetic statement. Speaking of the timing of His coming He said:

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:36-39).

In one short phrase Jesus confirmed Noah, the flood and the great ark that carried eight people safely through a terrible time of judgement. Christ is speaking to our time and world today. That is the major lesson from the story of Noah.

Our life today is full of warnings. Warnings that life can change quickly. That this life is not as stable and comfortable as it might seem. Things won’t always be the same. The question is whether we will act on those warnings and change our life and prepare for a time of prophesied upheaval.

The movie Noah was a missed opportunity. It was an opportunity to tell today’s world that grace, God’s grace, can still be found. It was an opportunity to give a message of hope to people who live hopeless lives. It was an opportunity to show that God’s hand is strong to save. But the opportunity has passed. But you can read and understand the true story of Noah. The story speaks to us today and it is the dual message of warning and hope that God always gives to a world about to change.

If we can focus on the Biblical story of Noah it still offers us a rich lesson in the power of God to save us from sin. For having watched this move and been drawn back to the true story that indeed is something worthwhile to salvage from the moment.