The end is heaven!

Luke 21:29-33

He told them a story. "Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter. When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner. The same here-- when you see these things happen, you know God's kingdom is about here. Don't brush this off: I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too-- these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.

Food for Thought

There are two main considerations in this reading.

(i) There is the conception of the second coming of Jesus Christ. There has always been much useless argument and speculation about the second coming. When it will be and what it will be like, are not ours to know. But the one great truth it enshrines is this: that history is going somewhere; that each one of us is en route; that we are not to stay on this earth forever; that there is an end; there is death. The Christian conception of history is that it has a goal and at that goal Jesus Christ will be Lord of all. That is all we know, and all we need to know.

(ii) There is the need to be upon the watch; to be ready; to be on standby. The Christian must never come to think that he is living in a settled situation. A Christian must be a person who lives in a permanent state of expectation. We must live forever in the shadow of eternity, in the certainty that we are people who are fitting or unfitting ourselves to appear in the presence of God. 

Because we're passing by, we must take each day as it comes. Live each day to the maximum; live each day to the best and fullness. Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today; don't procrastinate. Live in the present and presence of God. Don't neglect  prayer; it is a rehearsal of our appearance before God. At the end of our earthly journey, there is Jesus.

Stephen Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, recommends that we “begin (planning) with the end in mind.” The best planning encompasses what we want to accomplish and where we want to end up. Whether it is a special project or a simple daily routine, or our earthly journey, let us begin by the end and the steps needed to reach it.

If our end is heaven, let us leave a life befitting heaven. "Our final end is heaven, and from it we await to meet the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20)