Apocalypse Ahead

We’re approximately a month away from the end of the church year; that is, the lectionary cycle and seasons of the church are nearing their annual end and beginning.  Like each day springs forth with the sunrise, then wanes into the night; so too do the seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter) and the cycle of telling the story of Christ!  What season of life do you feel like you’re in right now?

Over the next month or so, our texts will seem to get more apocalyptic, or at least what popular/secular culture considers it; the end.  Yet, we of faith; we who understand that we are eternally found within God know this: what seems like the end is never the end.  Our God is the great one who is and who was and who is to come; and as we are found in that God through Christ Jesus our Lord, we too need not fear what is considered endings.

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Apocalypse is the Greek word meaning revelation, as in something is revealed to us; hence why the last book in the Bible is called ‘the apocalypse/revelation of John.’  And while some of the imagery seems scary, it never speaks of the destruction of the earth (as in the planet we inhabit or creation).  Rather, what it testifies to is our place within the one who eternally was and is and will forever be; thus desiring to give us encouragement to persevere or keep on in our faith to living into the kingdom God is making in the world!

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As I said, just above, over the next few weeks or so our texts will get seemingly apocalyptic even a bit scary as we hear various parables from Jesus about the last judgement and what true faithfulness looks like; yet, it is not meant to scare us or make us feel guilty and thus follow God out of a place of ‘be good or else you’ll go to hell.’  Rather, as we hear the texts coming up might we consider the cycle returning back to God’s control over creation being renewed.  Might we consider the leading of God to ponder if we live in such ways now as to whether or not we are manifesting the kingdom of God that we hope for or a space of existence that can seem as scary as the texts describe, full of weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Or perhaps we might consider this as a chance to renew our own commitments to our discipleship in Jesus as we look toward starting a new cycle during Advent!

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Advent, Latin for coming near, is not as far away as I would want it to be from a planning standpoint, and yet the cycle/year is renewed in which we will remember who is in control and who will be with us always, even to the end of the age.  So, don’t lose hope, don’t be scared, do pray and ask for God’s guidance to live into the kingdom God is creating right here and now in our very lives.