The End of All Things is At Hand!

Friday morning, July 25, 2008
Listen to these words of Peter—the Impetuous One: "The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:7-11).
You know, I am convinced that Peter sincerely believed that the end of all things was, indeed, at hand. He woke up every morning expecting Jesus to return, just as He had promised. Every day brought greater disappointment to Peter, as he waited, expectantly, for Jesus' return. For some reason, the "end of all things" did not occur during Peter's lifetime but this does not change the fact that the "end of all things" continues to be at hand. In the big scheme of things, it is only "moments" away. Sadly, we have grown cold and complacent, almost cynical, towards Peter's expectations. We live, as if the "end of all things" is far, far away—out of mind, out of sight! Even so, you can take this to the "bank": THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND!
Whether or not you believe it does not change the fact that Peter did and because he did, his priorities are especially interesting: be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer; keep fervent in your love for one another; be hospitable to one another without complaint; serve one another using your special gifting, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; whoever serves, let him do so by the strength which God supplies; speak the utterances of God; and, finally, in all things may God be glorified through Jesus Christ!
I find it quite interesting that, as Peter faces what he sincerely believes to be truth (the end of all things is at hand!), his focus is on relationships. But, then, what would one expect from one, who learned the hard way that the "heart and essence" of Christianity is just that—our relationship with God through Jesus and our relationships with one another.
Somehow, this gives fresh meaning to Peter's words—"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God"—and it, certainly, gives fresh meaning to Jesus' response—"Upon this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it"!
You can count on this: the kind of relationships Peter had in mind are the stuff against which the gates of hell cannot prevail! The rest? Well, isn't it obvious?