“Apocalyptic” literature that big fifty cent word (again)… refers to the end of times… The literature, itself sounds like a lot of “bad news.” It is not. Nor was it ever meant to be. The intention behind it – is always – “good news.” “God is in charge.” “God is in control.” Relax.
Easier said than done… Especially at this time of the year…(I know!)
This “new season” of the church year is already getting hectic for some.
Stress (real or self-created) is already in the air. It becomes a race-to-get-things-done…a race-to-the-finish-line…a race to the end.
And of course, there are those people who feel that “THEY” have to do it all. “They” themselves.
For some “the consumer side” of the holidays has now been in effect for more than a couple of weeks already.
Some people are tired, drained and punch-happy from all of the shopping. And some of us, haven’t even started…or thought about starting…
From store-to-store, from store-to-store all in search of that elusive “lowest price possible”…the best buy…conceivable.
“Then,” there was the “small store-Saturday events” where people of conscience felt obligated to visit the “mom and pop corner markets and shops…” Again, more running…
Monday, of course, turned quickly into “Cyber Monday” and the deals moved to “Online Shopping Only!” Let your fingers do the shopping…and, as long as it on “plastic” and just an account number that is typed in, it doesn’t feel too painful…or hurt, too much!
People are running around frantic. Parking lots are full. And there is always anticipation about the next great sales item to come out. It all seems to be happening earlier and earlier every year.
Sometimes we anticipate…and sometimes, we get anxious. Sometimes we are seemingly a combination of both! And some people end up feeling completely overwhelmed by the whole experience.
Ah, ‘tis the season…
When it comes to the holidays, sometimes we want to “savor them”… “enjoy them”…and we want them to last forever…we want to hold on to them tightly…as long as we can…
And sometimes, people just want them to be “over and done with..” They want to get “through them” as quickly and as painlessly as possible.
Already some people are talking about their “mounting debt of red”…their credit cards being “maxed out”…and they are worried about people that they still have to buy for…
While others … see only “the joy” of the season…and the sheer beauty of it all.
But it is not all “cheery Christmas carols” and “glittery gifts”…we live in a very real world…where very real things are happening to very real people on a daily basis.
Ours is and can be a very fragile world. There are countries constantly in the stages of conflict…and there are places where peace is fragile or unstable. Powder kegs do exist…
Afghanistan and Syria, Israel and Palestine, China and Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and the Ukraine, there is that whole Sea of China thing with unclaimed territories being confiscated, wild-fires tearing across California, rising global anti-Semitism, earth quakes in Alaska and now, gene-edited babies…
Throughout the nearly 2,000 years that have passed since Luke first wrote his gospel … the “end times” have been with us through history and we have seen horrors, distress and foreboding aplenty…
Jesus declared that “one day” there will be visible signs in the sun, moon and stars. The nations will be distressed and confused by roaring seas and mighty waves. Something is about to happen and take place and even the heavens will be shaken. It will be a time for faith.
Look up. Raise your heads. Your redemption is coming. Be on guard, be alert, pray. Be faithful. All this earth-shaking, heaven-rattling is merely to get our attention…
God is about to act in a big way.
For people of faith it signifies the coming of our redemption. We will be the redeemed people of God. Heck, come to think of it, we already are!
As always, our God is victorious. Our God wins the day. Our God rules. And his will is accomplished.
So, no matter where we are, no matter what happens we are not to fear. We are not to worry or fret. We for our parts, are simply to remain faithful…no matter what happens, no matter what occurs.
Our God is in control. Our God is in charge. Relax! Amen!