Stop Picking Dates

Friday, August 5, 2011

Reading: Mark 13

Reflection: There's lots of talk these days about the end of the world. The recent movie entitled 2012 is based on the Mayan calendar and the so-called end of the world that is to take place in the year 2012. Recently the self-defined Christian prophet Harold Camping suggested that he knew the actual day of both the rapture of the church and the destruction of the world. The rapture (removal of the church from earth for safety) of the church was to take place on May 21, 2011 and would be followed by the end of the world on October 21, 2011. Of course, May 21 came and the rapture never occurred. And, not surprisingly, Campings first prediction of the judgment in 1988 and 1994 didn't happen either. But his predictions keep coming and people's fears keep growing. And yet, Jesus could not be more clear. Jesus stated that "about that date or hour no one knows." He went on to say "You do not know when that time will come." So, maybe Jesus...who was never wrong about anything...should be trusted more than a guy who has never been right. Now, to be sure, the end will come. When that happens, judgment will follow. However, anyone who states they know when that day is coming is outside the counsel of Jesus. Rather than picking dates and times of the end, let's focus in on being faithful on every day so that no matter when it happens, we will be found busily about our Father's business.