Jesus said his coming judgment would be like that in the days of Noah. People would be eating and drinking, not realizing judgment was around the corner.

It’s interesting that Jesus compares his coming judgment to the flood of Noah’s day. Many Christians today say this flood was just a local flood.

But what does this say about the coming judgment? Is Jesus only going to judge people living in a certain area? Of course not! The Bible’s clear everyone will be judged.

Just as the past judgment on Noah’s evil world was global, so will this coming judgment be. But God has provided an Ark of salvation for us today—Jesus.

Dig Deeper

• Noah’s Flood and Judgment
• Did Noah Warn People About the Coming Flood?

Many Christians say Noah’s flood was just a localized event in Mesopotamia. But this idea doesn’t come from the Bible, and it has a lot of biblical problems, including this one—if the Genesis flood was a local flood, God is a liar.

You see, after the flood God put a rainbow in the sky and promised Noah and his descendants he would never flood the earth like that again. But if it was just a local flood, God didn’t keep his promise. There’ve been thousands of devastating local floods since Noah’s day.

When we don’t trust God’s Word, we make him out to be a liar. But the Bible says, “Let God be true, and every man a liar.”

Dig Deeper

• Taking Back the Rainbow
• 5 Reasons to Trust God‘s Word

When I talk to guests at the Ark Encounter, I often hear, “Wow! The Ark was huge!” You really have to see it for yourself to understand how massive it was.

Why did Noah need to build such a big ship? Well, because he, his family, the animals, and a year’s worth of supplies needed to be on board. And there was even room for anyone who would repent, though no one did.

Now, some people think the flood was just a local event. But then why would God ask Noah to build such a big ship? The people and animals could’ve just moved away from the flood’s path.

When we start with the Bible, we know the flood was a global event.

Dig Deeper

• Thinking Outside the Box
• How Could Noah Fit the Animals on the Ark and Care for Them?

Many Christians believe Noah’s flood was just a local event. This idea doesn’t come from the Bible—it comes from squeezing millions of years into Scripture. You see, if the flood really was global, then all the rock layers didn’t take millions of years to form. Instead, they were formed just a few thousand years ago during the flood. So, to accept millions of years, you have to reinterpret the flood.

But in both the Old and New Testaments we read that only the eight people on the Ark survived. With a local flood people outside the area would’ve been fine. This contradicts Scripture. The Bible is clear—the flood was global.

Dig Deeper

• A Flood of Evidence
• 5 Confirmations of a Worldwide Flood

To fit millions of years into Scripture, many Christians argue Noah’s flood was just a local flood. But that’s not what the Bible says!

Genesis tells us the water covered all the highest hills “under the entire heavens.” And it emphasizes that every single living thing on land died except those on the ark. The New Testament even repeats this.

A local flood wouldn’t cover all the high hills under the heavens, nor could it kill everything on land. Birds could’ve flown away and animals and people could’ve escaped to higher ground.

And Noah’s flood lasted over a year! The Bible couldn’t be more clear—this was a worldwide event.

Dig Deeper

• Local Flood Theory: Why It Doesn’t Work
• Was the Flood of Noah Global or Local in Extent?

Scientists have long hoped to find life on Mars. But one study suggests it’s even more uninhabitable than previously thought.

Salt minerals found on the Martian surface kill bacteria in just a few minutes. Scientists originally thought the minerals weren’t a problem because they need heat to activate them and Mars is cold. But research shows all they need to become active is UV light. This means any bacterial life on Mars would be killed right away.

Mars was never designed for life. Earth was. That’s why we find life in every place on earth, but can’t find it anywhere else. The Bible is right—earth was formed to be inhabited.

Dig Deeper

• Study: Mars “More Uninhabitable Than Previously Thought”
• Life on Mars!

A while back scientists announced they’d found an ingredient needed for life around distant stars. Well, these scientists still need to find a planet just the right distance from its star, with just the right star, with just the right atmosphere, with liquid water, and all the other ingredients needed for life.

What they really found was a hazardous material in the family of molecules that form peptides and amino acids which, when they form proteins, are the building blocks of life. Hardly a “life ingredient”!

Scientists are no closer to discovering how life evolved anywhere because it didn’t evolve. God created life here on earth.

Dig Deeper

• “Ingredient of Life” Discovered in Distant Star System
• Is There Life on Other Planets?

In an evolutionary view, life must exist elsewhere in the universe otherwise earth is special. But that points to a Creator, so evolutionists are desperate to find alien life.

But what has the evidence shown? That earth is special! The more scientists search for signs that distant planets could harbor life, the more apparent it becomes that earth is different from everything in the universe.

And it’s not just different. It’s obviously made for life. With just the right atmosphere, distance from the sun, the right kind of sun, liquid water, and more, earth is perfect for life to thrive. Life didn’t evolve here or anywhere.

Dig Deeper

• Are Aliens Real?
• Are We Ready for a Conversation with ET?

The idea of life in far-away galaxies may seem harmless, but belief in aliens comes with theological problems. The Bible tells us Adam’s sin affected the entire universe. This means any supposed aliens are suffering the effects of sin, yet they didn’t sin in Adam like we did.

Jesus came to earth to die for descendants of Adam. To save aliens, Jesus would have to go to each planet be born, die, and rise again. But the Bible tells us Jesus died once for all and his work is complete.

The idea of intelligent aliens is incompatible with the gospel. Scientists can look all they want, but they won’t find any distant civilizations.

Dig Deeper

• Is Belief in Alien Life Harmless?
• The Evidence Is In: We’re Alone in the Universe

Does life exist in outer space? Well, the Bible never directly addresses questions about extraterrestrials. But it gives us principles we can apply to these questions.

The Bible tells us God formed earth to be inhabited. Earth is God’s footstool and the focus of his attention. It was to earth that God sent his son, Jesus. But the other heavenly bodies were created as signs for days, seasons, months, and years. Other passages tell us the heavens were created to give glory to God. This difference in purpose suggests that earth is unique as a home for life.

Starting with God’s Word, we don’t expect to find alien life.

Dig Deeper

• Is Anyone out There?
• Did God Create Alien Life?

The world destroyed by the global flood of Noah’s day was very different from today. Here’s just one example: in the pre-flood world, there were towering stromatolite mounds built from algae and sediments washed in by tides. In today’s world, much smaller mounds still exist in a few places. These stromatolites are identical to ones in the past, just smaller. Why?

The fountains of the great deep broke apart and this forever changed the pre-flood ocean environment. The new conditions made it hard for stromatolites to grow like they did before. These algae mounds are a reminder of the flood and a world lost because of sin.

Dig Deeper

• Stromatolites—Rare Reminders of a Lost World
• Noah’s Lost World

When you think of vegetarians, spiders probably don’t come to mind. But there’s one species of spider that snacks on plants, only hunting occasionally. This shouldn’t shock us. This spider is just a reminder that even creatures with predatory features once devoured only veggies.

You see, God originally created man and the animals as vegetarian. It wasn’t until after sin that animals turned to carnivory.

And spiders aren’t the only reminder of the past. Some rather fierce-looking species eat plants including several monitor lizard species, fruit bats, and giant pandas. It’s all a reminder that the history in God’s Word is true.

Dig Deeper

• Vegetarian Piranhas’ Teeth Point to Pre-Fall Perfection
• No Taste for Meat?

Evolutionists have long portrayed Neanderthals as primitive human relatives, but they have to keep updating their story as Neanderthals just keep getting smarter. A DNA analysis of some Neanderthal teeth shows they used forms of penicillin and aspirin to treat disease.

These teeth showed that a teen had eaten a kind of fungus that fights infection, and he’d chewed on poplar bark, which contains the active ingredient in aspirin.

Neanderthals weren’t primitive. They knew enough about their world to use natural remedies to fight infections and pain. These humans were just that—humans, descendants of Adam and Eve, just like us.

Dig Deeper

• The Neandertals: Our Worthy Ancestors
• Did Neanderthals Practice Chemistry?

Did you know in India there are two rivers given the same legal status as humans? In New Zealand, a 150-year debate ended when a river was finally named a legal person. In Ecuador, nature is represented in their constitution with certain “rights”!

This silliness highlights the absurdity that results from a world in rebellion against the Creator. This kind of thinking ignores the uniqueness of mankind. We’re special, made in the image of God, with unique rights and responsibilities, including dominion over creation. Nature is important, and we’re to steward it well, but we’re distinct from it. A river will never be a person!

Dig Deeper

• God’s Image—The Difference Maker
• Should Animals Have Equal Rights as Humans?

Many people today think that Christians can’t bring their worldview to the public sphere. In this view, politicians can’t apply a biblical worldview when it comes to legislation, and Christians can’t operate their businesses on Christian principles.

But religious freedom doesn’t mean freedom to just believe what you want at church or in private. It’s the freedom to apply our beliefs to everything—just like the secular world does!

As Christians are faced with growing intolerance, we need to stand boldly on our unchanging foundation, God’s Word. Human reasoning comes and goes, but God’s Word stands forever.

Dig Deeper

• 54% of US Adults Think Religion Should Not Influence Political Decisions
• Is a Biblical Worldview Optional?

Throughout history, the majority of charities, food pantries, and rescue missions have been started and run by Christians. So why does the secular world treat Christians as if our beliefs are dangerous?

Because it’s a spiritual issue! The Bible tells us if we live a godly life in Christ we should expect persecution and that men love darkness, rather than light. No matter what we do, we will still get attacked because men hate God.

We should expect opposition because the gospel confronts people with their sinfulness and need for repentance. So how should we respond? By lovingly and boldly preaching the gospel!

Dig Deeper

• How Should We Then Give?
• When They Persecute You

All this week we’ve been dealing with criticism against Bible-believing Christians. Well, here’s something to remember—you can never please everyone. People will always find something they think is wrong. So how should we deal with that?

First, listen with humility and pray for wisdom. No one’s perfect or right all the time. Make the best decision you can and move on.

Second, do your best to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. We should never be characterized by a hateful or proud attitude.

Lastly, don’t go against your conscience. If your conscience convicts you and nothing in God’s Word says you’re wrong, follow your conscience.

Dig Deeper

• General Revelation, Special Revelation, the Gospel, and Science
• Where Does Spiritual Fruit Grow?

Many Christians oppose a literal interpretation of Genesis. Instead, they reinterpret God’s clear words to accommodate man’s ideas about evolution and millions of years. And many of these Christians mock and attack us for standing boldly on what God’s Word says. How should we deal with these attacks?

Well, by continuing to point out that compromising Genesis undermines biblical authority. You see, when Christians mix evolution and the Bible, they’re taking elements from the religion of naturalism and forcing them into Scripture. And this leads coming generations to doubt God’s words and reinterpret them in other areas.

Dig Deeper

• Overcoming Doubt
• Doubts Lead to Unbelief

There are many church leaders who claim to be shepherds but are really “false prophets” and “ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Jesus warned us to beware these false teachers, and we need to remain vigilant, contending for the faith against error.

So, what should we do when we recognize false teachers by their fruit, judging them by the standard of God’s Word? I believe it’s important to publicly rebuke these people. This warns the church of their dangerous teaching and gives the false teachers a chance to repent.

We should have no respect for those who purposefully lead the sheep astray—rather we need to sound the alarm!

Dig Deeper

• Coping with Criticism
• How Colossians 1 Combated Erroneous Teaching in the Church

The secular world opposes Bible-believing Christians with false information, blasphemy, swearing, threats, and ad hominem attacks. How should Christians deal with these attacks, especially if they’re personal?

Well, understand that we shouldn’t be surprised by this opposition. We should expect it from a world that loves darkness rather than the light of Christ and his Word.

Secondly, don’t take the attacks personally. It might seem like people hate us but ultimately, they hate God. They’re lost, dead in their sins, and headed for a Christless eternity. We should be moved with compassion for these lost souls.

Dig Deeper

• Three Ways Atheists Reveal They Actually Believe in God
• The Burden of Standing for God’s Word

In our culture today, for “love and marriage,” pretty much anything goes. But there’s one exception: nearly all Americans say adultery is wrong.

This is so inconsistent. Where do people get the idea that divorce, same-sex relations, and premarital sex are all fine, but adultery crosses the line?

In a secular worldview, there’s no ultimate standard by which to condemn adultery except someone’s opinion. But in a biblical worldview, adultery is wrong because God says it is. Just like divorce, same-sex relations, and premarital sex, adultery goes against God’s design for marriage.

We have solid answers when we start with God’s Word.

Dig Deeper

• Sexual Immorality Increasingly Acceptable—Unless It’s Adultery
• Adultery—Justified by Evolution?

I once saw a study that said the majority of Americans think sex before marriage, same-sex relationships, and divorce are morally acceptable. Why? Because our culture is steeped in a secular worldview.

You see, in a biblical worldview, God created us and he makes the rules.

But in a secular worldview, we aren’t accountable to anyone, and we make the rules. So, really, “anything goes” because morality is just whatever’s right in our own eyes.

Now, it’s no surprise the secular world thinks this way. But many in the church are adopting this thinking too. We need to get back to starting our thinking with God’s Word.

Dig Deeper

• Exposing the Connection: How Evolution Impacts Morality
• Morality and the Irrationality of an Evolutionary Worldview

A few years ago,a study found that two-thirds of Americans think embryonic stem cell research, which kills unborn children, is morally acceptable. But only half think medical testing on animals is okay. So, more Americans think it’s all right to kill unborn children for medical testing than think it’s okay to do testing on animals.

How has human life become so devalued? Well, it’s all part of a culture that’s rejected God’s Word. When you ignore the Bible, you have no ultimate basis to believe humans are special or more valuable than animals. But, according to God’s Word, humans have a unique value because we bear God’s image.

Dig Deeper

• Sexual Immorality Increasingly Acceptable—Unless It’s Adultery
• God’s Image—The Difference Maker

Yesterday we learned that 81% of Americans see morality declining in this nation. So, what do they think is the solution? Well, a majority said the Bible is a solution to this mess. While it’s great to see that people respect the Bible, do they actually treat the Bible as if it’s the answer?

Research shows only 20% of Americans actively read and study their Bibles. And only 10% have a biblical worldview. So, while they may have a concept of the Bible as the answer, people aren’t actually turning to the Bible to see what it says.

As Christians, God’s Word must be our authority for morality. Do you know what it says?

Dig Deeper

• Survey: 81% of Americans See “Declining Morality” in the US
• Biblical Authority and the Book of Genesis