For many, the end of the world is a terrifying thought. What else do we know, except this world? How can we conceive of it all going away and something unfamiliar and unknown beginning? Everything about our Faith is “good news”. To profess otherwise is to declare that God is not all-good. So what’s going to happen when the earth as we know it comes to an end and how is it “good news”?
When the “appointed time” (Dan 8:19) has come, Christ will appear: “They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Lk 21:27). Everyone will be compelled to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord! No more feeling alone in our belief or being quietly tolerated as “naïve” or lacking in scientific knowledge. We will rejoice that our faith in Christ is totally affirmed.
Moreover, something marvelous will be revealed: Everyone will know and see precisely, how God has brought good out of evil. God’s promise that “all things work together for good” (Rom 8:28) will be revealed to all. Imagine: we will know the good that came, even from the greatest tragedies, and understand how it far surpasses the sadness and suffering. We will marvel at the goodness of God who takes even human weakness and sin and makes it mysteriously and effectively work for a greater good.
At that time, we will also see the “ripple effect” of our acts of kindness, our prayers, our patient endurance, and all our other acts of virtue. We will know, “Because you said this prayer on this particular day, this good happened. And because of that, this other good happened, and because of that...etc.” We will rejoice and praise God for allowing us to participate in His saving work.
Of course, to experience all of this as “good news” we need to be on the side of the sheep and not the goats. If you’re reading this, you are likely a person of prayer who repents of wrongdoing. Salvation should be the unmerited grace you firmly hope in God to give you.
Thinking of how all things will end up should encourage us. It should give us hope in the midst of the obscurities of this life. God has a plan. His plan is good. His plan will ultimately come about. Good will triumph over evil. Things will be set right forever. What’s not to like?
Questions? Comments? Reach David at dlins@oloj.org.
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