Methuselah

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 5
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Do you remember what made Methuselah so special in the world’s entire history? If you don’t know, read on and you will find out.
Although he lived to be a very old man, one strange thing about Methuselah is that he died before his father! I’ll tell you the answer to that puzzle right now: His father never died at all! And, if you are a real Christian, that fact might very well be true of you too. Yes, you may never die!
How could that be? We have the Lord’s promise that He will come back to take us to His Father’s home in heaven. And since He conquered death at Calvary, if we are still living when He comes, He’ll take us to heaven and we’ll never die!
Are you wondering about those believers who have already died and are buried? They can’t hear us now, but they’ll hear the voice of Jesus when He comes and will rise out of their graves in new bodies, ready for heaven, just as we will be. We’ll all meet our Lord Jesus together in the clouds. Now what could be better than that? (You can read about this wonderful event in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.)
Methuselah’s father was a true believer. His name was Enoch. And when his baby boy was born, God gave Enoch a special name to give to his infant son. The name God gave him meant, “When he is dead, it shall be sent.” As little Methuselah grew up, he may not have understood why he had that name, but he carried the message everywhere. He eventually became a great grandfather, and still he lived on and on, carrying God’s promise everywhere that something was coming when he died. Since that promise came from God, it was unbreakable. It is only God who can make promises that cannot be broken.
We all know that death is the end of man’s life on earth, and Methuselah didn’t die until he was 969 years old! Why was God so slow to end Methuselah’s life? Was there something that God was really unwilling to do? Yes. And here’s what happened the year that Methuselah died: THE FLOOD CAME.
That was such a huge disaster that only eight people lived safely through it. Everybody else in the whole world drowned. So far, there has never been another disaster equal to that. But God’s judgment on this world is sure to come. He will destroy this earth, not by water but by fire. That is His unbreakable promise. He has been so slow to do this that people say, “It will never happen.” But remember, God’s promise is unbreakable!
Only eight people were saved from that flood. It didn’t take long for people to sin and disobey God again, and that’s where we are right now. Is there hope for us? Can anyone be saved now from God’s coming judgment?
If Jesus had not come, the answer would be “NO.” But He DID come! “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). On Calvary’s cross, God poured on Him all the punishment that belonged to us because we are sinners. In His great love, “the Son of God  ...  loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). That settles it forever! What wonderful news!
Would you say then that everyone is saved from punishment for their sins? No, because refusers are not saved, and there are many, many refusers. Will you accept Jesus as your Saviour now — today — and no longer be a refuser?
Maybe you remember Noah who was one of the eight saved when the flood came. Did you know that Noah did not shut the door of the ark once the eight people and all the creatures were inside? God shut the door, not Noah. We are not going to shut you out of heaven, but if you are a refuser, God will do that.
There is no other Saviour but Jesus. “The Son of Man [Jesus] is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:5-6).
Think About God’s Word!
1. What does the name “Methuselah” mean?
2. How do you know God has waited patiently for you?
Project: Second Peter talks about the Lord waiting patiently for the flood. Why did He?