The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray….Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:7,10
If you know me, you know that there is a jukebox inside my head. But this jukebox requires no quarters. Instead, whatever input I receive dictates which song starts to play at any moment…in my head. Sometimes, to the chagrin of those around me, especially my own family members, the song comes out of my mouth. On occasion, this jukebox will select a song so unusual and unknown that I will surprise even myself. But for the most part, there are a handful of songs that play over and over and over again. One of the songs that gets lots of air time is a song from the 80’s titled, “It’s the End of the World as we Know It” (R.E.M.). Not only is the tune catchy, but there are a lot of triggers in life that point to “the end” whether its apocalyptic movies or bleak and oppressive pandemics! Funny thing about this song is that it isn’t terribly singable. The lyrics come at you like a machine gun making it very difficult to reproduce vocally. And so, again, to the chagrin of my family, I end up singing the only line I do know again and again (and again), “It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.” Isn’t it empowering to say “I feel fine” in the face of trials, even if it is the equivalent of a moody teenager’s, “whatever”? I guess not caring in the face of a worldwide apocalypse makes you cool. But truth be known, I get the sense that the singers might be fooling themselves. I wonder, if it really was the end of the world, would they feel fine? I’m not so sure. But maybe a more profound question, for followers of Jesus, is whether we have a Biblical perspective on the end of the world? Does our view of “the end” impact how we live every day? Consider what theologian Peter Davids writes, “This expectation of the imminent inbreaking of God’s full and final rule conditions all New Testament teaching, and without grasping it one can hardly understand the radical ethical stance within any of the New Testament literature.” What should be our response to the reality of the imminent inbreaking of God’s full and final rule? 1 Peter 4:7-11 actually provides us with some very profound answers to that profound question. How should we who have hope be living in view of the reality that this world is on the clock? At the outset, it must be said that too many believers live as if the world will go on this way forever. This perspective makes sense for those who do not have hope…even if it is only wishful thinking…even if they are just fooling themselves. But for us who know better, to live as if this world is all there is, investing most of who we are and what we have in that which is fleeting, is sad. So, what if we didn’t live like this world was all there is? What would it look like if we truly lived with a view to Jesus’ return? We don’t have to guess at it. Peter tells us. First, Peter says, “be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” The picture here is of a person who has a “non-anxious presence” (see Peter Steinke’s definition of a leader) in the midst of life’s chaos. This isn’t about pretending to feel fine, but having true hope in trials because of our deep trust in and close walk with God! Second, Peter says that the end should move us to love deeply. This is the opposite of what was depicted in a recent apocalyptic movie where the end of the world moved humanity to “turn on each other.” Not so for Jesus people. Our call is to let the reality of the coming of the end of the world move us to love and care for each other deeply. Third, Peter says that the end of the world should move us to serve each other. Again, this is contrary to the self-serving response predicted by that apocalyptic movie. Serve others? Yes! Don’t go all Titanic… “the ship is sinking, every man for himself!” Instead, embrace a hope-filled mentality that uses the time we have on this earth to minister Christ’s grace to each other, to speak His truth into others, to share His love with others, and to meet the needs of others. Finally, Peter tells us that the reality of the end should move us, more and more, to let all we say and do be sourced in God and to His glory! What Scripture says about the end of the world is so different than the responses our world advocates, whether it’s pretending not to care or, like Chicken little, to cry “the sky is falling, the sky is falling!” As followers of Jesus, we can walk in hope and share that hope with those around us. The end is coming, and soon, but Jesus has it all under control and His Kingdom prevails! Live accordingly. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 Pastor Dan
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Dan GannonDan has ministered at Renton Bible Church, with his wife Debbie, since 2003. Archives
June 2022
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