A second, more difficult issue is raised by the Flood: how could a God of love do this to his creation?

Bill Moyers expresses this perplexing question well: "I would suggest that this is why a lot of people today cannot abide the Bible, or the faith, and they can't come to terms with a God who would do this. We cannot avoid the question of God here because what God has done, so to speak, is to wipe out everybody in New York City--eight million people, except for the eight people sitting in this circle--because God's unhappy with them" (Moyers 116-7).

Why would a God who is love (1 John 4:8) send a Flood which would wipe out nearly all of humanity? And why would he include the rest of his creation, animals and life forms which are obvious innocent of sin?

Consider these facts:
One: humanity was given an opportunity to accept his grace. Noah was a "preacher of righteousness" to the world for the century he spent building the Ark.

: death is inevitable for sinners, whether it comes "naturally" or by divine intervention. God's word is blunt: "The soul who sins is the one who will die" (Ezekiel 18:4). Death comes to all who sin, for "the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

: the Flood is not the only time in the Bible when God was forced to send his judgment against sinners. The children of Israel were instructed to destroy the Canaanite civilizations which inhabited their Promised Land; Sodom and Gomorrah were reduced to ashes as well. If we cannot accept the Flood as divine in origin, we must discount much of the biblical description of God's wrath and judgment against mankind.

: those who refuse to accept such judgment must obvious reject the doctrine of Hell. And yet the eternal destiny of those who refuse God's forgiving grace is taught clearly and consistently in Scripture. Critics of the Flood judgment eliminate much of God's word with their rejection.

: the death of "innocent" animals and other life forms killed in the Flood was the necessary result of God's judgment against humanity. There was no physical way to kill only humans. All other animals would have died eventually, some in just a few days or hours (cf. the insects).

So, what can we learn from this tragedy?

The Flood warns us against sin and its consequences. For instance, consider Jesus' warning: "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left" (Matthew 24:36-41). From Noah to today, we have known that sin leads to death, and that no one is safe from God's judgment.

God will never end humanity in this way again: "Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth" (Genesis 9:11). The Flood has made clear the effects of sin. Its purpose has been accomplished. Now we die individually for our sins, rather than collectively.

While the earth will not be destroyed by flood, it will come to its end one day: "Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some of you understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare" (2 Peter 3:8-10).

We must be ready today: "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him" (2 Peter 3:11-14).

Those who awoke on the morning of Noah's Flood did not know that their last day had dawned. When you woke up this morning, you had no such expectations for this day, either. Neither did those who died on 9-11. Neither will those who are living when the Lord returns and the world as we know it ends.

You may go to him today, or he may come for us all. We are one day closer to the end of history than we've ever been before. I don't know that history will end today. But I don't know that it won't. And neither do you.