Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church
720 Edgewood Road NW - Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52405
Phone: (319) 396-8547  -  E-mail: secretary@holyredeemerlutheran-cr-ia.org

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What Do You Think?

Current Message

How would you spend your time, money, and energy if you knew 'the end' would occur this year?
-- Series III - Matthew - Question 5, Lesson 26 (BSF International)

The answer seemed so simple. If I knew Christ's return were imminent, I would spend nearly all my time and energy on knowing God's Word, sharing it with others, and making every effort to ensure those I know and love also know Christ's love and salvation. I would focus on developing relationships between Christ and those I care for.

In reviewing my answer I noticed a couple of things. First, there is no mention of money, even though the question clearly included it. Money would have little meaning in a world where we knew Christ would soon return. Would I feel compelled to continue in my current work, to set aside for retirement, to upgrade a home? No. I could live on what I now have, knowing that I could do without much of what I feel I "need" today. I could use the money to further God's purpose; to share the good news.

Secondly, I noticed a significant lack of self in the answer. Oh, it speaks of what I would do, but it's primarily about doing for others and for God. It doesn't speak of hoarding my resources or doing all those things I've always wanted to try. It doesn't even focus on secluding myself to read my Bible and be in prayer. My answer focuses on others.

Lest this all sound too high and mighty - "Look at me and all the good I would do" - let me continue with the other thoughts this question stirred in me. The question appears in a study of the 24th chapter of Matthew. A chapter which also caused me to ponder how can I ever know with certainty when Christ will return? The answer can be found at verse 36:

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only."
-- Matthew 24:36 (ESV)

So, given that I cannot know when Christ will come again, how can I be certain that it will not be this year, this week, or even today? I don't know that; I can't know that. Only the Father in heaven knows the day and the hour. The rest of us are called to "stay awake" and "be ready".

If that's the case, how then should I live today? By spending "nearly all my time and energy on knowing God's Word, sharing it with others, and making every effort to ensure those I know and love also know Christ's love and salvation." (One must appreciate the irony of our own answers coming back full circle.) Do I, in fact, live that way today? Am I even preparing to live that way in the immediate future?

Suddenly, my answer doesn't seem so simple. Or rather, the answer remains just as simple, but my corresponding action is not. I feel convicted, moved out of my comfort zone. Am I really prepared? Have I prepared those around me? What about you? Are you prepared and living in eager anticipation of Christ's return? Do our actions today testify to our readiness or will Jesus catch us napping? What should we be doing today?

The Lord doesn't call all of us to full-time professional ministry or mission work. But He does call each of us to share His good news. Each day then we must ask ourselves: Am I pointing others in the proper way? Does my daily life testify to His glory? Will Christ return to find me working for Him or for myself?

It's tempting to argue that I would live differently if I knew as certainly as it is posed in the original question. But don't I already know with certainty that Christ will indeed return? I profess that I do. So what do I need to do today? What do you need to do today?

What do you think?
Jeff Hand (jhand@isualum.com)

 
"What Do You Think?" Notes
In The Beginning...
Some of you may wonder how this column came to be. Over the course of several months (perhaps years), I found myself thinking, pondering, even brooding about certain topics. I found myself wishing to discuss them with someone. But often, by the time I found someone with whom I could discuss, my thoughts had clouded -- sometimes disappearing completely. So I began to jot down some of my thoughts as they occured. At some point, I asked Pastor Brenda if one set of thoughts would make a good article for the newsletter. She thought it would and that it would be a good way to witness. And that's how easily it all got started.

It is important to note that the opinions included in this column are my own. While I certainly don't intend to offend them, there is no implied endorsement from either Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church nor Pastor Brenda Peconge. (Though for everyone's sake, the column is quite often reviewed by others.) So, what do you think?

Previous Messages
Feel free to review our archive of past "What Do You Think?" columns. Each is dated to provide a context for the message.

April 2008
July 2007
June 2004
February 2004
November 2003
September 2003
July 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003

 
 
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