All people alive today owe their existence in one sense to one righteous man, Noah.

Noah lived in a world that had turned away from God and His way of life. God knew where that would lead, if unchecked. So God "did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly" (2 Peter 2:5).

Noah was the only person of his generation that God described as living a righteous life (Genesis 6:9). His wife, their sons and daughters-in-law all survived the flood because he was a righteous man.

Jesus Christ predicted a time prior to His return to the earth when things would be so bad that mankind’s survival would be at risk: "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved" (Matthew 24:21-22).

God will not allow mankind to be wiped out. He will "shorten the days." But why?

"For the elect's sake those days will be shortened" (verse 22).

Because the elect – like Noah in his day – remain faithful to God, millions of people will survive this terrible phase in man’s history and experience the beginning of the millennium.

In one sense, then, the elect will rescue mankind. That’s an inspiring thought for this fall festival season!

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!