Safe in the Ark

I've been in a study in Genesis for a couple of months now and the past week or two we have been looking at the account of Noah. My husband and I have noted that it is a strange thing for baby toys and decor to show cute floating zoos with Mr. and Mrs. Noah happily bobbing along. This account is anything but cute or happy. We are told that "every intent of the thoughts of his (man's) heart was only evil continually." God would not hold back judgment forever. However, in His mercy, He saves Noah and his family. God sends rain, but not only rain. He made the great deep burst forth. This was catastrophic. How did Noah and his family survive? They were safe in the ark that God had given specific instructions about building. Jesus says in Matthew 24:37 that His return will be like the days of Noah. People will be eating, drinking, getting married. What is missing from this list of activities? Worship of God. God is patiently and graciously giving time for people to come to Him, but as in the days of Noah, he will not hold back judgement forever. And it will be catastrophic. How will anyone survive? In Christ. We've also been reading the book of John with our son and I'm reminded again of John 3:16, but there are a few other verses after 16 that are very important. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the the only begotten son of God. This is the judgement, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." Out of God's love, He offered an ark. And out of His love, he offered His Son.