Day 13: “Is this the End of the World?”

Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic

A series of daily reflections for people of faith

by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

WEEK TWO: FRIDAY 27 MARCH 2020

“Is this the End of the World?”

“Chuck Pierce’s son was concerned, like a lot of other people looking out on a world of ransacked grocery stores and canceled sports seasons and eerie lines of people standing six feet apart from one another. So he asked his dad: ‘Is this the end of the world?’” - Newspaper editorial, March 17, 2020

With the advent of the coronavirus millions of sincere Christians who live in their Bibles are asking the same question. After all, did not Jesus himself, when teaching about signs of the end times state “’There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places…’” Luke 21:11. And the apocalyptic scenario laid out in the book of Revelation sees a pale horse rider decimating large numbers of people by “sword, famine and plague,…”  Revelation 6:8. Could the coronavirus be a portent of the second coming of Christ, “Is this the end of the world?”

Jesus cautions against attempts that are ultimately futile to nail down when it will all be over:

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’” Matthew 24:36.

WHEN it will happen is not given to us to know. Indeed, Martin Luther, when asked, ‘What would you do if you knew Christ was coming back tomorrow?’  was said to have responded, “I would go out and plant an apple tree.” Knowing we can’t know frees us to faithfully live life for the Lord, one day at a time.

WHAT will happen at the end of the world – TV prophecy preacher prognosticators notwithstanding, is not given to us, at least not in very much detail. One thing, however, is sure, and it is the most important thing of all, making knowing details secondary at best. John puts it this way in his letter to new Christians: “Dear friends, now we are the children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2. We are going to see Jesus! 

Reflective hymn: Face to Face (#781)

Face to face with Christ, my Savior, face to face what will it be,

When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me.

Face to face I shall behold Him, far beyond the starry sky;

Face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by.

Reflective Prayer: Write your own.