The End Is Near

Just because something doesn't happen doesn't mean it won't happen.

Yes, I'm referring to the end of the world, doomsday, Judgment Day, the Rapture or whatever else someone might call the apocalypse.

Yes, it's sad that so many people couldn't discern why Mr. Camping was wrong when for the second time he predicted the end of the world, this time on Saturday, May 21, 2011. It's even sadder that this wasn't the first time people have been fooled. And sadder still that more people will be fooled in the future.

It's also sad that people mocked God in spite of what will eventually happen. It's terrible that because of a small group of people, no matter how sincere, many others ridiculed God and the gospel. It's awful that people who already wanted little or nothing to do with God, judged him by comparison with a tiny sampling of people who say they are Christians.

Whether or not any of Camping's followers are actually believers is irrelevant. The fact that people who are not ready to meet God and will one day be left behind can't distinguish between the truth and fiction is perplexing.

But that's not a new problem.

People in Jesus' day weren't sure about who he was. Not all of his disciples were convinced of his divinity. People in his hometown recognized him only as "the carpenter's son." His cousin, John the Baptist, by proxy asked Jesus, "Are you the one?" At least some of his immediate family wondered if he was delusional. Pilate didn't recognize the truth when face to face with Jesus. And they were not alone.

It's no surprise then, or it shouldn't be, that today people don't recognize Jesus. After all, so many Jesuses have been on display over the course of history and these Jesuses many times bear little if any resemblance to the Son of God whose biography is recorded in the Bible.

But that should actually encourage us.

Jesus said that near the end more and more people would proclaim themselves to be the Messiah. He also noted that lots of folks would tell others, "He's over here!" or "He's over there!" As with the fact that Jesus cautioned that even he didn't know when he would return, these and other bits and pieces of information make it clear that the time has not yet come. But it's close. And people will only know it's too late when it's too late.

The good news is that it's not too late. There's still time. How much? I haven't got a clue. And neither does anyone else. But that means we have time to tell others that they have time. It also means they have time to make the most important decision of their lives. And that means that sometimes bad news is good news.

Someday something will happen. Someday people will suddenly disappear before others can blink their eyes. That means they will see them disappear. Someday (not the same day) God will judge every person. Verdicts will be rendered. There will be no appeals. Someday (before that day of judgment) Armageddon will become a reality and all the horror of all the wars that have ever been fought will pale in comparison. Someday (much later) this Earth will come to an end. When? I don't know. And neither does anyone else.

I do know, however, that for now we have time. I hope more people will use the time remaining wisely. I hope that many will realize that just because something didn't happen doesn't mean it won't happen. And that right now they still have time to prepare for the inevitable.

The end doesn't have to be bad. It could be good. In fact, it might be the best day of your life.