Jesus and Peter Use Noah As An Example

In Hebrews 11:7, we see that Noah had the faith to follow through on God’s commands even though no one alive at that time had ever seen a flood.  Notice his faith: Hebrews 11:7 (KJV) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
In Matthew 24 Jesus is speaking to the Jewish religious leaders about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., but in verse 35 He begins speaking about the end of the world and warning them of events that had not yet been seen, just like God warned Noah in his day of a world-wide flood.  Matthew 24:36-40 (KJV) “36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”  Jesus noted in Noah’s day that many people were occupied with the daily activities of eating, drinking and being married, but they were oblivious to the coming destruction of the flood.  Jesus applies this fact of history to the Jewish leaders to point out the coming destruction of Jerusalem (24: 1-34-) as well as the end of the world (24:35-25:46) which will occur someday. 
A lesson we can learn from this is that many are busy with life, but should be aware of the coming judgment day.  Many today do not believe the historical account of Noah’s ark, but Jesus both knew it was true and used it to teach a lesson about the judgment day.  Peter builds upon this lesson in 1 Peter 3:21 (KJV) “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”  Jesus taught there was a judgment day coming, and Peter emphasizes that obedience to God allowed water to save Noah and his family from the sinful world.  In a similar fashion, obedience to God’s commands allows water to save us from this sinful world.