Today, at work, I was minding my own business when I hear a co-worker exclaim, "Let’s all party because the world is going to end in 2012!" Apparently, she had been in a conversation with a customer who has interest in the growing popularity of the belief that an ancient, Mayan calendar predicts the world will end on December 21, 2012. This is not the first time I had heard about this subject. My boss approached me with it a few months ago. I don’t put much stock in it. From what I have been able to gather, the Mayan civilization ended sometime around 1,300 A.D. Armed with this knowledge, I sarcastically said, "The Mayans couldn’t predict the end of their own civilization, but I am supposed to believe they can predict the end of the world." In order to avoid a debate over the issue, I let it go. So many things go through my head when I hear people accept all the myths and legends circulating out there so easily. They will believe stuff like this "2012" myth, but turn a deaf ear to the deity of Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection despite the irrefutable evidence.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:25-27
The Mayan "doomsday" is over four years away from now. The funny thing about this is how all those who accept it, or at least give it the time of day, assume that they are guaranteed to live these next four years. Nobody is promised another day on this earth. It is estimated that about 155,000 people die every day, on average, around the world. None of us know when that statistic will include us, but we know that someday it will. However, for most of those people who are healthy, young and have, what they would consider, a good life, the prospect of dying anytime soon is the last thing on their minds. And you can argue that it should be this way. People regularly focusing on death are not the most pleasant individuals to be around. With that said, why would one worry about what might happen in 2012 when it is best to be concerned with today? From what I gather, all those I have encountered that are preoccupied with this "prophecy," are not Christians. So, I should not be surprised at them latching on to something like this. The classic Christian question, "If you died today are you certain you would go to heaven?" comes to mind. If these people are so concerned about the end of the world being so close, you would think they would be interested on where they will end up when it does end!
"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-3
Paul tells us not to worry about setting times and dates regarding the return of Jesus Christ and the beginning of the End. And Jesus, Himself, did not give any indication as to when He would return. What I take from this is that if the Word of God and Jesus, God in the flesh, don’t give us any insight into when the world will end, then we should definitely not be taking our cues from the mythology of an extinct, pagan civilization. What we do know, however, is that, like our death, the return of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. He could come back as I write this message or while you’re reading it. The point I am trying to make is that when you come face to face with Him, whether through death or Christ’s return, will you be welcomed as His servant or cast from His presence as His enemy? One of those two outcomes awaits all mankind.
"As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you."I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Although my co-worker was being silly when she talked about partying before the supposed end of the world in 2012, it does remind me of how we all can take so much for granted. With all that is going on in the world to put fear in our hearts, or distract us from the things of the Lord, we dare not forget the grace God has extended towards us. Everyday, we have been given breath is one more opportunity to either accept Christ as your savior or proclaim Him to those needing salvation. If we knew for a fact that the world would end in 2012, I would bet there would be a fair share of people "eating, drinking and being merry" because, apart from Christ, all you have is to rely on is your understanding. But, since we don’t know when that day will come I would encourage those without Christ to seriously consider what it is He came to offer. And, at the same time, I want to encourage those that know Jesus Christ personally, as their Savior, to preach the Gospel without reservation. He could come back at any moment, including today. Therefore, whether or not you die today, the world ends in 2012 or at sometime further in the future, now is the day of salvation. The choice is yours.
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