THE END OF THE WORLD
I Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
If you knew you had only a year left of life on this earth, what would you do?
In the movie, "The Bucket List," blue collar auto mechanic Carter Chambers and billionaire hospital magnate Edward Cole meet when they find themselves in the same hospital room after receiving the prognosis of terminal lung cancer. In an effort to deal with his impending death, Carter begins a bucket list -- a list of those things he wants to accomplish before he dies:
1. View something truly majestic.
2. Laugh until I cry.
3. Help a complete stranger for good.
4. Drive a Shelby Mustang.
Edward finds the list, adds a few items of his own, like getting a tattoo and sky diving, and off the two go for one last adventure.
Between the movie, "2012," and cable TV specials on ancient Mayan scrolls, many people are speculating on what is going to happen on December 21, 2012.
The Bible has a few things to say about the end of the world. First of all, we won't know exactly when the second coming of Christ and Judgment Day will be. It will come like sudden labor pains or a thief in the night. Even if we did know, what would we do? Would we make our own bucket lists and run around trying to be super holy to make up for our previous actions? Would we climb to the top of some high mountain and just wait it out, or would we say, "What the heck! Eat, drink and be merry, for we're all going die, soon?"
Paul's advice to the Thessalonian Christians who truly believed that Christ would return any day now is that they should keep doing what they were doing: staying alert and living faithfully. Faith is the confidence in the gospel and the promises of God which fuels our willingness to accept and participate in God's love in action, grace, that is poured out on us by giving ourselves in service to Christ and loving others. Love embodies that faith in concrete actions within and beyond our churches that encourages, builds up and brings joy and hope to others.
In the movie, while sitting atop a pyramid in Egypt, Carter shares that the ancient Egyptians believed that the measure of a person's life, could be summed by the answer to two questions when they arrived in the afterlife. "Have you found joy in your life?" and "Have you brought joy to others?" It was one of many conversations the men had about death and heaven.
Carter, a Christian, dies before Edward. At his funeral, Edward said, "the last few months of Carter's life were the best of mine." Carter had lovingly brought joy to Edward's life.
Another thing the Bible has to say is found in John 3:16-17 (NIV): For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Through Jesus Christ, God offered God's self to us that whether the world ends tomorrow or on December 12, 2012, we don't have to live in fear. In Christ, we have the hope of salvation, the assurance of God's promises, and the firm expectation of the return of Christ.
Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
If you knew you had only a year left of life on this earth, what would you do?
In the movie, "The Bucket List," blue collar auto mechanic Carter Chambers and billionaire hospital magnate Edward Cole meet when they find themselves in the same hospital room after receiving the prognosis of terminal lung cancer. In an effort to deal with his impending death, Carter begins a bucket list -- a list of those things he wants to accomplish before he dies:
1. View something truly majestic.
2. Laugh until I cry.
3. Help a complete stranger for good.
4. Drive a Shelby Mustang.
Edward finds the list, adds a few items of his own, like getting a tattoo and sky diving, and off the two go for one last adventure.
Between the movie, "2012," and cable TV specials on ancient Mayan scrolls, many people are speculating on what is going to happen on December 21, 2012.
The Bible has a few things to say about the end of the world. First of all, we won't know exactly when the second coming of Christ and Judgment Day will be. It will come like sudden labor pains or a thief in the night. Even if we did know, what would we do? Would we make our own bucket lists and run around trying to be super holy to make up for our previous actions? Would we climb to the top of some high mountain and just wait it out, or would we say, "What the heck! Eat, drink and be merry, for we're all going die, soon?"
Paul's advice to the Thessalonian Christians who truly believed that Christ would return any day now is that they should keep doing what they were doing: staying alert and living faithfully. Faith is the confidence in the gospel and the promises of God which fuels our willingness to accept and participate in God's love in action, grace, that is poured out on us by giving ourselves in service to Christ and loving others. Love embodies that faith in concrete actions within and beyond our churches that encourages, builds up and brings joy and hope to others.
In the movie, while sitting atop a pyramid in Egypt, Carter shares that the ancient Egyptians believed that the measure of a person's life, could be summed by the answer to two questions when they arrived in the afterlife. "Have you found joy in your life?" and "Have you brought joy to others?" It was one of many conversations the men had about death and heaven.
Carter, a Christian, dies before Edward. At his funeral, Edward said, "the last few months of Carter's life were the best of mine." Carter had lovingly brought joy to Edward's life.
Another thing the Bible has to say is found in John 3:16-17 (NIV): For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Through Jesus Christ, God offered God's self to us that whether the world ends tomorrow or on December 12, 2012, we don't have to live in fear. In Christ, we have the hope of salvation, the assurance of God's promises, and the firm expectation of the return of Christ.
Comments
Post a Comment