The Day After the End of the World

If people are right about the Mayan prophecy, there's not much point in my writing this blog. December 21, the day the world's been talking about as the predicted "end of the world," is just a few hours away as I write. And that wouldn't leave much time for folks to read this.

Happily, I just heard on the news that folks in Australia are still here - and it's been "doomsday" for several hours now. So I'll keep writing.

What's amazing is that a prophecy supposedly (scholars claim there was no such prediction) made by an ancient Indian tribe centuries ago has been taken so seriously by so many. It's all over social media; people all over the place are talking about it. It was even all the buzz at our grandson's middle school today.

This fascination with the end of the world is nothing new. History's full of dates, come and gone, set by would-be doomsday prophets. Good thing we're not living in Old Testament times. One wrong prediction and it proved you were a false prophet. And you were stoned to death.

There seems to be this strange sense somewhere in our soul that this world has an expiration date. And that sense is right. Because one day - on the day and in the way of God's choosing - this world as we know it will be done.

God - the One who rules the future - says, "The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare....That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat" (2 Peter 3:10-12).

So, yes, one day this world as we know it will end. But you won't. No matter how or when the world ends. What matters for us is not when this planet's time runs out, but when ours does.

We're created in God's image, creatures of eternity. Oh, our bodies are made to wear out (and they give us plenty of reminders of that!) - but our souls are made to go on forever.

Whatever guesses people may float about what happens to our souls, only God knows. And He says it's one of two destinations. One where "He will be glorified in His holy people...and marveled at among all those who believed." And the other where people will be "shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

The destination isn't decided then - it's decided now. Based on what we do with God's Son, Jesus. Because of what He did for us. When He "carried our sins in His body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). God says, "Nothing impure will ever enter" heaven (Revelation 21:27). We can't go there with our sins of a lifetime. And only Jesus can forgive them. Because only Jesus died for them.

"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). If you leave someone's Christmas gift unopened under the tree, don't blame them if you never get to enjoy it. You have to reach out and make it yours. Just like what Jesus did for us on the cross.

End of the world? Not such a big deal. End of my time in this world? A very big deal. Next stop - appointment with Almighty God.