People often ask me: “are we living in the end times?”
I feel like we are, given the current state of our world. We’ve just been through a global pandemic. Tensions between nations haven’t been this hot since the start of World War 2. The risk of thermonuclear war is at an historic high. Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more severe. We are pushing our planet to the brink of extinction by our over-consumption of natural resources and pollution.
Nearly every person of power and influence has been labeled as the antichrist, including U.S. presidents, Republican and Democrat; tyrants like Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and bin Laden; celebrities; technology and media billionaires…
But Christians in the first century felt like they were living in the end times. So did people in Martin Luther’s Day in the 16th century, especially in the aftermath of the Bubonic Plague that killed half the population of Western Europe.
Let’s pretend for a moment that we are living in the end times. What would you do?
I imagine your priorities would change, as I would expect for someone diagnosed with a terminal illness. You would spend more time with the people you love. You’d aim to check things off your “bucket list.” You’d make the most of every day. Focus on the positives, not the negatives.
But let’s not forget that any time Scripture mentions the end times, we are always warned of global catastrophes, the likes of which will make people faint with fear and horror. As sinners, fear does not bring out the best in us. Fear makes us irrational, self-centered, vicious creatures. Fear compels us to hate and even fight our neighbors, rather than loving them.
If you think the world is going to end, what motivation is there to be a good steward of God’s creation? Why bother with recycling and conservation if God’s about to burn everything up?
Jesus told us, and the apostle Peter reaffirms, that no human being will know the hour or the day of Christ’s return. That knowledge is for God and God alone—and the reason why God has not revealed to us the exact date and time of the end is because we would not use that knowledge for good.
However, these words express a great sense of urgency for every generation of Christians, from 2,000 years ago to perhaps 2,000 years in the future and beyond. Everything in existence has a definite beginning and end, including you. Only God is eternal. Therefore, the question of when the end will come is less important than the question of how you are living today.
Consider how much time, effort, and resources you devote to things like career success; achieving and maintaining a high standard of living; going on dream vacations. Having the best stuff. Not missing out on the exciting things your friends are doing. Being in control. Trying to please everyone all the time. In other words, all the stuff that won’t matter in the Kingdom of God.
We have all the time in the world for the things we want and the things we crave, but never enough time for the things that matter. We waste our time worrying and stressing about things we either have no power to change or all the power to change, if only we would make the effort.
The one thing good times and bad times have in common is that they all end. But all time is sacred—because salvation happens in time. God is using this moment in time to call you by name. God uses time to redeem you from sin and make you a new creation. Time is where you witness God’s power and love delivering you from your trials. Time is the gateway to eternity, if only you will surrender and let God rule your time.
Jesus says that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. If you are living faithfully as a disciple of Jesus, doing his work in the world, the Day of the Lord will be the best surprise you’ve ever known. Imagine that you are so invested in the work of Jesus that he has to tap you on the shoulder and tell you God’s kingdom has come.
If, on the other hand, you are entangled in the affairs of this world, the Day of the Lord will be as unwelcome as a thief, because time—the one thing you’ve always had—has run out. Imagine the horror of having wasted your time and your life for that which is no more.
Jesus doesn’t want that for you. God wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost. If you wonder why Jesus hasn’t come back yet, it’s because God’s saving work is not complete. Time is holy because salvation happens in time. This present moment is sacred because Jesus is calling you in it. Let go and give him the control. Let him shake up your priorities to shake out all the stress, worry, and shame that God never intended you to bear. Let him turn your heart inside-out to live for others. Don’t live in fear of what tomorrow may bring, because it will come, and it will go. God promises you the grace to face it, to overcome it, and to emerge from it stronger and more faithful than before.
The hour and the day of the Lord’s coming is less important than what you are doing with this hour and this day.
My dear friends, this is the second letter I have written to
encourage you to do some honest thinking. I don't want you to forget 2 what
God's prophets said would happen. You must never forget what the holy prophets
taught in the past. And you must remember what the apostles told you our Lord
and Savior has commanded us to do.
3 But first you must realize
that in the last days some people won't think about anything except their own
selfish desires. They will make fun of you 4 and
say, “Didn't your Lord promise to come back? Yet the first leaders have already
died, and the world hasn't changed a bit.”
5 They will say this because
they want to forget that long ago the heavens and the earth were made at God's
command. The earth came out of water and was made from water. 6 Later
it was destroyed by the waters of a mighty flood. 7 But
God has commanded the present heavens and earth to remain until the day of
judgment. Then they will be set on fire, and ungodly people will be destroyed.
8 Dear friends, don't forget
that for the Lord one day is the same as 1,000 years, and 1,000 years is the
same as one day. 9 The Lord isn't slow about
keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient,
because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.
10 The day of the Lord's return
will surprise us like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a loud noise,
and the heat will melt the whole universe. Then the earth and everything
on it will be seen for what they are.
17 My dear friends, you have been
warned ahead of time! So don't let the errors of evil people lead you down the
wrong path and make you lose your balance. 18 Let
the gift of undeserved grace and the understanding that come from our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ help you keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever!
Amen. (CEV)
Comments
Post a Comment