They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

For a young girl this is rather devastating ...it should be for anyone.

Many people believe the 'End Times' are near.

But, how much different is it to look at 'end times' of humanity, or an individual's own personal end of life here on earth?  

We know that today, the next, or the following week  ...may be our last.  Many who've been diagnosed with cancer, or some other life-ending illness ...may have some idea that their time is near, but it could also be a total surprise for the rest of us.

Many times, we say, "Well, at least they went quickly ...they probably didn't feel it."

Well, perhaps it would be better if they had felt it ...not the pain, but the sudden fragileness of life.  If they could just feel the Holy Spirit's presence, and be able to accept and embrace.

Each of us are unique.  Some of us took quickly to fixing cars, while others work exhaustively at other tasks. 

Some people have been equipped with a strong desire to reach out to the lost ...whether in their own communities, or to foreign lands.  Some people do not feel at rest unless they do what they feel they are 'called' to do ...or what the Holy Spirit gives them a heart for.

Some people are what we call 'prayer warriors', and they spent much time in prayer.  And some people feel burdened for the sick, others for the elderly, and still others for our troubled youth.  

Some  have an outright cry, as they look at what is really going on in this world.  And I don't believe they have a mental or emotional problem because they perhaps cry for the state of affairs of the common earth dweller ---with people eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage ---all while society celebrates its own achievements and accomplishments, seemingly advancing to a point that in its own eyes it feels no need to believe any different than to believe we all just evolved to this high state of sophistication, and a belief in God is only perceived as being a weakness and a hindrance to our cultural superiority.

No, we can't cry all the time ...and we can't solve everyone's problems, but to just dismiss the thoughts by saying to ourselves that those other people deserve it, they've had their chance, or they have to find their own path ---well, that is difficult for me to accept.  If God wanted just the Holy Spirit to guide them to truth ...then Jesus wouldn't have said for us to go out and spread the 'Good News'.

No new news here ...it can be truthfully said that I deserve the worst, and I always expect that extra chance. That's not saying an extra chance to be saved ...the salvation message is not one I am confused about.  But, I do want to have another chance to show that I am not so pathetically ungrateful.

If we view 'end times' are near ...it is not a great deception that people have fallen for, over and over again. If Jesus returns a hundred years from now, it may be on people's minds this whole century of time marching on ahead of us.  

Noah and his family had approximately an equivalent century in time to build the ark according to His specifications. And I believe it crossed their mind a time or two how much of a horrific panic it would be on the day God would begin the flood and destroy all life outside of the ark.

It seems Lot's wife had a thought of horror as she turned back to look as Sodom was being destroyed.

I would like to think I used my chance to tell people about Jesus, to present the truth as real and as exciting as I can ...and I would hope that it could provide a life-chancing experience for others, not through my description ---but through the experience that can only be had by accepting Jesus.