If you worry about the end of the world…   GOOD NEWS! It’s happened already. And God has promised it will never happen again.

Early on in human history God became remorseful because the evil inclinations of humankind were ruling and ruining the world God had created:  The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So, the Lord said, “I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created—people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them. (Genesis 6:5-7 NRSV)

This part of the story of Noah gets little attention in children’s Sunday School classes. God was so disappointed in people’s character and behavior, God was so sorry that they lived for evil rather than living and reflecting the goodness of God, that God determined to end the world. God was going to flood it out.

And then, just at the last minute, one person found favor in God’s sight. One person was faithful and obedient, Noah. So, God saved Noah by clueing him in about the coming flood, instructing him to build an ark, and calling him to save the animals of creation. All of this was accomplished to God’s glory.

But let’s not forget that the flood was God’s plan to wipe out life all on earth because of sinfulness. No more chances, no forgiveness, no savior, nothing! Because God’s favor was upon Noah, for Noah’s faithfulness, God decided to make a promise to all humankind to ‘forebear’ and never again destroy all life on earth because of sinfulness.

¹¹ I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” ¹² God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: ¹³ I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶ When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” ¹⁷ God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:11-17 NRSV)

Of course, this is part of God’s master plan. Because God is filled with grace and love, it’s God’s nature to have a will and purpose and plan in which sinfulness is wiped-out by justice, but sinners are extended mercy by grace.

Since our promise-making promise-keeping God made this covenant of forbearance, God knew that, one day, God would send God’s son Jesus to ‘flood’ the world with God’s grace and mercy…   at once (and once for all) drowning sin but saving sinners!