The End is Near!

     Yes, 2012 is almost upon us.  And, yes, I know that many are talking about the end of the world.  But that’s not what I’m talking about.

     “Now hold on just a minute!” you say.  “What about the European financial crisis?  What if Iran goes nuclear and sparks another war in the Middle East?  Is that the beginning of the end?”

     Maybe.  But that’s not the ‘End’ I had in mind.  I’m talking about the end of the year.

     Every year at this time people become wistfully reflective.  “Where did the year go?” they ask.  “Time is just flying by,” another will say.

     But, instead of commenting on the obvious, why not consider the obscure?  Instead of barreling through life at top speed, why not briefly slow the pace and ponder some of life’s important questions.

     Questions like, “Is this all there is?”  Or, “When you die, what's on the other side?  What’s the final reality?”

     Morbid?  Not really.  It’s more likely that you or I will enter the ‘Final Frontier’ in 2012 than that the world will end.  Every day more than 150,000 people enter eternity.  Are you prepared?

     People spend their lives planning and preparing for retirement.  And how long does that last? Fifteen to twenty years?  Or maybe thirty--if they’re blessed with good health and long life. 

     And remember--there’s no guarantee they’ll even make it to retirement!  But everyone is guaranteed to die.  Last time I checked, no one is exempt.

     Because of this fact of life, the Bible’s advice to us is, “Prepare to meet your God.”

     Now the Bible doesn’t tell us that to frighten or scare us.  The point is to encourage us to push the “Pause” button on our busy lives and think about what happens when life’s movie ends.

     Listen to the wisdom of God’s Word:  “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the dust returns to the ground it came from and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”

     According to the Bible there is no reincarnation, no purgatory, and no second chances.  Jesus clearly taught that eternity holds just two options:  a place of delight the Bible calls heaven and a place of eternal punishment Jesus called hell. 

     To be sure we don’t miss this fact, the Bible says, “Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment.”  That’s the facts straight up.  No sugar coating.

     The good news is that God made it possible to spend forever with him.  Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God offers forgiveness and peace to all who come to him through faith in Christ.

     Jesus came to bring new life now and eternal life later to everyone.  God’s offer is not just for Jews or Christians.  It’s for everyone. 

     The angel who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you.  He is Christ the Lord.”

     A New Year’s resolution can help change a habit.  But Jesus Christ offers a changed life—both now and forever.  Faith in him brings us peace with God and can help us be at peace with others.

     Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”   Because Jesus came we can follow him by faith to our eternal home.

     So whether ‘The End’ is near or not, we can live without fear by trusting in Christ. And that's the best way to start 2012!

     Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!