“It’s the end of the world as we know it..” “The End is Nigh!” “The Sky is falling!!”
These ‘end of the world’ declarations have been somewhat commonplace in the history of mankind. We often hear of someone saying that “on this date.. the world will end.” In some Christian circles this can also be the trend, predicting the return of Jesus as “this time and place”. We have continued on right past these dates with no event.
The recent round of predictions comes from a series of astronomical calculations made by the Mayan civilization that they recorded on a calendar. These predictions are not really ‘predictions’ as such but people’s interpretation of what the cycles they calculated mean and what will happen when they are fulfilled.
The speculation of what might happen when the end of the next major cycle is fulfilled (on Dec 21, 2012) as the earth and Sun align with other stellar objects in the Milky Way is almost limitless. This is not our objective to predict or describe. Our focus is instead on what we know from scripture.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:36 about his return “But about the day of the hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father.” He continues this thought in verse 42.. “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Our certainty is in the return of Christ.
Our challenge is then not to try to figure out when Jesus will return or a major calamity will happen, but instead how I am living for Christ today. We do not live in fear but with hope. The eternal hope that is Jesus Christ. Just as we have been challenged with over the past few weeks.. #BeTheLight.
What do you think? Are people talking to you about the Mayan calendar?
(If you would like to listen to the message from Dave click here. )
Blessings,
JB