“But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
 
Matthew 24:36-39
 
The first Gospel in the Advent series is actually Jesus talking about the end of days. In some way, he says, it will be sort of like the flood in the story of Noah. Before the flood, people were carrying on with their daily lives, while Noah built the ark. Noah was preparing for the future because he was in sync with God. He knew the larger picture of the flood that was about to happen. So when God sent the flood, Noah was prepared.
 
The truth, the brutal fact, was that a flood was coming — but only Noah was open to receiving God’s grace to help him prepare for it so he could survive and thrive during the flood. In the same way, our time with God each day can help us live in sync with God’s grace.
 
Ask God for his help today to live in sync with the waves of grace he is sending.