As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together with him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed…2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
Three times within the last two days I have had conversations with people about the end times. One person was asking if there was such a thing and, if so, what it would look like. Two others shared their conviction that with the fires in California, the flooding elsewhere and the drought here in Georgia, they thought we were surely living in the end times.
I like St. Paul’s response to the anxiety of the Christians in Thessalonica. They worried that Christ had already come and they had missed it! Most of us worry about its coming because of the distress that will precede it or the “rapture” of which we have heard so much. Paul tells us not to worry. We stand in God’s grace.
In so doing, Paul reminds us of two things. The first is that Christians believe that there will come an end to human history as we know it. God will re-create the world in fullness and joy; death will be eliminated and all of creation will be healed. The second thing he reminds us of is that our faith in Jesus Christ assures us of our place in God’s Kingdom.
Jesus tells us, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36)
Since we cannot know the day or the hour, we are cast back on the grace of God and the power of our faith. That means that we should live as if we are in the end times – proclaiming and sharing the wonder of God’s love in Jesus. At the same time, we can have the confidence of God’s love and the hope of our bringing healing to the world for many years to come. Only God knows when the end will come. Because of that, we live in the freedom of our faith and in obedience to the mission of Christ’s Church.
Whatever your beliefs about whether this is the end times or not, disciples of Jesus continue to practice our faith in the confidence of all of his promises. We rest assured in God’s grace.
Lord Jesus, help me live as if you are coming today and plan as if I have decades left to bring your good news into the world. Amen
