Pastor’s Corner — Live each day as if it’s THE day

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

If the saying is true that April showers bring May flowers, then we should be in for a bumper crop of flowers as we enter into May. It seemed like the rain would never end, but we finally have sunshine. I have even been able to mow my yard. May is that special time of year when spring is as its finest. We have flowers blooming, trees leafed out and warmer temperatures, but not the hot temperatures that July and August will bring.

With May also comes a great deal of speculation, specifically concerning May 21. In case you have not heard, this is the day that a group from Pennsylvania claims will be Judgment Day. They say Judgment Day, not the end of the world. This same group says the end of the world will occur on October 21 of this year unless of coursethe Judgment does not occur. It seems this has been calculated using historical timelines that are somewhat based on the creation accounts and the great flood found in the book of Genesis.

A lot of people have been talking about this, and now that the royal wedding is over and we are in May, a lot more people will be talking about the speculated events of May 21.

Will anything actually happen on May 21? I don’t know. My guess is probably not. I mean, people will still get up in morning and do the things they normally do. They are not the first ones to make claims that the judgment and the end would occur on specific days throughout history.

In the New Testament, Jesus says in the gospel of Matthew verses 36-39 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.

That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” According to Jesus’ own words, he himself and theangels are not even privileged to the information of when these things will occur. If the information wasn’t shared with Jesus, it probably wasn’t shared with a group of people from Pennsylvania or anyone else. I must admit though, this past April was beginning to feel like the days of Noah.

When such claims are made they generally serve as a distraction and a deterrent rather than a call to hear and receive the good news of Jesus Christ. Making claims about specific times for Judgment Day and the end of the world play upon peoples fears and insecurities. We as human beings have enough things to fear. We really don’t need anymore. The important thing to focus on is that God loved us people enough to send Jesus the Christ so that we would not have to livein fear. Through the Christ we celebrated on Easter we can know peace and joy. We can also experience healing where there has been pain and brokeness. Through Christ the burdens we carry on our shoulders can be made lighter.

What it all comes down to is really quite simple.

Live each day to its fullest. Do something kind for someone you don’t even know. Take time to smile and laugh. Tell those you love that you really do love them. Will Judgment Day and the end of the world happen? I am sure they will someday, but that should not be the main focus of our lives. Just live each day as if today is THE day. Jesus said it best in Matthew 24:42“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Notice Jesus said, “keep watch” not let this be the number one priority of your life.

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Editor’s note: Brian Timmons is the pastor of Pea Ridge and Brightwater Methodist Churches. He can be contacted at 925-0167 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Church, Pages 2 on 05/04/2011