The Sky is Falling

During my rather long hiatus lots of things have occurred. The sun has risen and set, the clouds have covered the sun, babies have been born, snow has fallen, melted, and more recently, fallen again. I usually get a severe case of the winter doldrums between February and April. It has been especially bad these last two years as I've been living in a place where many people don't plant vegetables until the weekend before Memorial Day (in other words, spring comes late here). I love seeing all the seasons come and go, but to be honest, February always seems like the longest month of the year. I'm tired of dead things. I'm tired of being cold. But the pre-spring season this year has been punctuated by even more depressing happenings than snow storms. It has been a season of death and disaster.

A family in my hometown recently lost 7 of their 8 children in a house fire. It's a loss that I can't even fathom, and I'm not sure many people can, with the exception of Job, who lost 10 children. Unlike Job, this family has had the unwavering support of the community and even the nation, as donations and prayers have poured in. The immediate community has already framed a replacement house for them. But what little comfort these donations must be to them. Their arms will never hold their children again. And how can they keep from wondering why this has happened to them, despite the fact that they're a godly, Christian family. Or maybe because of that fact. Isn't God supposed to protect his people?

On a world-wide scale, the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has killed an unfathomable amount of people (over 18,000 as I write this). And the nuclear plant's struggle to keep the reactor stable - or make it stable, rather - certainly has the world concerned. Add to this the protests in Libya and Egypt, and some people are thinking about the movie 2012. One of my 7th grade students emphatically assured me that the movie events were happening in real life and that we're all going to die next year.

I've been reluctant to speak on the subject, but I can barely go a day before I hear of someone's untimely death. And maybe it's always been this way, and I'm just more sensitive to it because of the Japan disaster and the deaths of those 7 children. It seems trite and selfish to say that it's gotten me "down," but apparently I'm not the only one. I've heard a lot of talk about the end of times recently. And I know I'm young and I don't have the knowledge and experience that many older, wiser people do, but it's a free country after all, so I thought I'd post my thoughts on this subject.

This, of course, is coming from a Christian point of view. And a Calvinistic one, at that. If you're not a Christian or don't believe in a Sovereign, all-powerful God, the end of the world, I suppose, will look quite different to you. I mean, can you prevent it? Can anyone? I can't pretend to know the beliefs of anyone but myself and those who I've personally heard speak on the subject so I will remain silent on them.

The most commonly quoted Bible verses on the end of times are probably from Revelation (naturally) and the 3 gospels that contain Jesus' comments on the fall of Jerusalem and the coming of the Son of Man. Of course, many of these verses have been interpreted differently by many different people, and once again, these are only MY thoughts. I didn't go to seminary, and I am female, so you can take this with however many grains of salt you wish. But here is the verse I've seen quoted:

"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places." Matthew 24:7

I've always liked history. When I see that verse, I see the whole of human history in it. Has there ever been a time when two nations or kingdoms haven't been at war against each other? And how many times have there been famines and earthquakes? Even in the last 10 years? This, to me, is not conclusive evidence that the world is ending immediately. If you go in the passage it says, "All these are but the beginning of the birth pains" (v. 8), and then it talks about the destruction of the temple for a while. But it's hard to say where Jesus stops talking about the destruction of Jerusalem and starts talking about the end of the world. The commentators that have published my Bible say that at around verse 29, the talk turns to the end of the world. To be sure, it doesn't sound pleasant. But what I'm more interested is Jesus' own comments on his prophesies.

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." Matthew 24:36-39

Now, you may be thinking, that's not quite fair! How can God take these people away before giving them a warning to stop their sinning and repent! Well, my answer would be that he did. I mean, isn't every day a chance and a warning? Isn't every earthquake, every war, every death a warning and a sign that someday, be it tomorrow or 20 years from now, we will all die? This life will come to an end, whether it be from World War III, or natural disasters, or global warming, or whatever. I will come to an end. Whether it be from a car accident on the slippery roads this morning, or from old age, or cancer, or heart disease, or any other malady.

Christ follows up his warning with an entreaty to "stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:42-44).

So, I don't really care much if the world is ending. I care very much for these people who are going through horrible, sorrowful times. But I hope that they can take comfort in Jesus' words in John 16:33 - "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world." I have peace from this verse. I believe in a sovereign, mighty, all powerful God. I believe that he has a plan and that nothing will deviate Him from His plan (Romans 11:33-36). I know that He works out all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). And I know that no matter where I am when I die, He will take me to His side and I will praise him eternally (Mark13:27). Everyone who believes in God, sincerely, with his or her whole heart and soul and mind, has these promises to hold onto. Nothing can take us out of God's hand (John 10:27-30). Those who trust in God have a strong foundation. It's not volatile like the nuclear reactor. It's not shaky like the earth's foundations. It's secure. We are secure.

Perhaps I've been presumptuous to speak on these things. Perhaps the world WILL end next year. But if it does, what then? I had better stop worrying and start preparing! For certainly the world will end, or I will end. One of the two has to happen. And I know it's unpopular to speak of God, but I've never cared much for popularity. It's more important to speak of the things that are on my heart, if they stand a chance of helping anyone. That's all I can hope my words can do.