It took Noah about 120 years to build the ark. During that time he warned the people around him to turn from their wicked ways. They sneered back, “A flood? That’s ridiculous! Such a thing will never happen!”

We too may wonder why the flood was so long in coming. The Bible tells us, “The patience of God was waiting in the days of Noah” (1 Peter 3:20). You see, God was patient and gave the men and women of Noah’s day ample time to turn back to Him.

The Bible tells us God will bring another judgment upon the earth, a great final judgment. “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Because this promise has been unfulfilled for two thousand years, many people laugh and ask, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:4). They do not realize “the Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God is still giving men, women, young people, and children time to turn back to Him.

What about you? “Do you think lightly of the riches of His . . . patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).