In case you missed the news, the world didn’t end Dec. 21, as some people thought the Mayan calendar predicted. In fact, if you’re reading this, we’ve made it to Jan. 5.
Some “worlds” did end that day. By coincidence, it was the last day at work for my wife, who is moving to a new job after 28 years in a place she loved. It also was the last day at work for my brother, who is retiring after a productive career in education.
But both are embarking on new phases of their lives, so they have new worlds to enjoy. Kathy is glad she will be closer to the patients she treats, and Sam will have more time for golf, travel and ranching.
Actually, followers of Christ believe that at the real end of the world, they will have a wonderful new environment to enjoy forever. Many of us are uneasy about the future, but those who believe the scripture’s words should be confident.
“Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave it with regret?” wrote C.S. Lewis. “There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
Paul said it more succinctly in Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
I don’t waste much energy worrying about when the world will end. The final day could be tomorrow with some comet striking the Earth or with Jesus showing up literally as portrayed in the Bible.
For any of us individually, though, it also could end tomorrow as our pastor, Tommy Politz, described in his sermon Sunday — with a car accident, an aneurysm or any unpredictable calamity.
Even in the best scenario, the longest any of us will be here is a few more decades, so for each person, the end will arrive soon. Compared to the trillions of years of eternity, each life is shorter than a tweet.
My mother has been in poor health for a while. Although little was said about it during Christmastime, I know all my family, especially Dad, my brothers and sister, were thinking more about Mom than about presents or turkey and dressing. We’re thankful that as the New Year approached, she was feeling better.
Christmas Day did remind us we can’t predict the future. The electricity went out on the windy, snowy day, and instead of our traditional holiday feast, we ate cold ham sandwiches.
I didn’t hear anybody complain. There’s no point in worrying about what we can’t control, and the biggest thing in that category is when we will leave this Earth.
Sunday’s sermon was based on a letter by James, brother of Jesus: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. … If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (James 4:14 and 4:17)
Clearly, as our pastor said, we should do good things now, not “someday.” We all put things off until someday, whether it’s losing weight, volunteering or telling someone we love them.
What we do today should be our focus, not when it all will end. And even when we worry about our loved ones, Christian hope can comfort us. Consider this German saying: “Those who live in the Lord never see each other for the last time.”
