Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It’s the End of the World as We Know it
I wouldn’t classify myself as a fan of music from the 1980’s but this song by R.E.M. came to mind. The continual refrain goes “It’s the end of the world as we know it” and repeats until the last line of the chorus where it changes and adds the words “and I feel fine” to the phrase. And while I don’t know the band’s viewpoint about the end times, I think that this song can prove to be a helpful teacher when viewed from a Christian perspective.
The song is driven forward by a constant drum beat and snappy vocals with lyrics that can seem disjointed. Moving from topic to topic and idea to idea. Likewise, when we’re tugged to and fro with news headlines, barraged by the broadcast of the most recent violent attack, informed of the most recent natural disaster that kills tens and hundreds, it really can feel like the end of the world as we know it. From the rising tension and deaths between Russia and Ukraine to hearing about students killing their Spanish teacher only an hour away from here, it really can feel like the end of the world as we know it. All we have to do is put our finger on the pulse of the world going on around us, even the pulse within our own home, even the pulse within our own mind and it really can feel like the end of the world as we know it. And oftentimes, we don’t feel fine.
This isn’t the first time that people have felt this way. I can only imagine how the disciples of Jesus felt when He told them that e must go to Jerusalem, be rejected, beaten, and killed. Their Messiah and savior was to die. For them it probably felt like the end of the world as they knew it. Or consider the many Christians in the early church who were persecuted by the Roman empire, forced either to reject Christ or to be killed as dissenters. For them it probably felt like the end of the world as they knew it too. And in many ways, it wasn’t fine for them either.
And I Feel Fine
I tell you that it actually is the end of the world as we know it. All of creation is waiting in eager anticipation to be set free from its bondage to the corruption of sin (Romans 8:19-21). We are living in the last days between the ascension of Jesus into heaven and His imminent return. Jesus warns in Mark’s Gospel about wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, earthquakes and famines (Mark 13:7-8). We’re to expect atrocities and be prepared for things to look dreary by earthly appearances as the end of days approaches.
The book of Revelation cuts through these earthly appearances and illustrates the heavenly realities that go on behind the scenes. The depictions of how Jesus has overcome the terrible spiritual forces of evil and the devil to save His people. One depiction is the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with His redeemed people who have His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads (Revelation 14:1-3). Even though evil and the devil appear to have overtaken the world, Jesus and His people are on Mount Zion, high and untouched, safe. The people have been marked as His so that they cannot be lost or forgotten, but they are promised and guaranteed salvation and eternal life.
Even in the midst of tragedy, we have been placed beside Jesus, the Lamb of God. Jesus gives us heavenly peace, because He rules from on high with us by His side and evil cannot overtake us. Though Satan is still causing mayhem, He is in his death throes and is a defeated enemy. Even though it’s the end of the world as we know it, we are fine in Christ. Amen.
In Christ,
Vicar Lewis