THE END OF ALL THINGS When speaking of "the end," the coming of the Lord, and the judgment, the language of nearness is often used. Men of God wrote as though they expected the conclusion of everything to occur very shortly. Our text is a case in point, and we will deal with several other texts that are so characterized. "The end of all things IS at hand." -- Tomorrow:
"The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" ( Peter 4:7-10, NASB)
Some have chosen to believe this type of language rules out the consideration of the passing of the heavens and the earth. According to them, this kind of expression is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem and the passing of Jewish dominance. Jesus did speak of the judgment of Jerusalem, but did not confine His remarks concerning "the end" to that event.
Faith has a perspective that cannot be embraced by the flesh. Time is not its primary reference point. It assumes the posture of God, with Whom "one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (1 Pet 3:8, NIV). What appears lengthy to the flesh, actually is brief and transitory to the spiritual mind.
Think of some of the expressions of Scripture that reflect this attitude.
1. "The joy of the godless lasts but a moment" (Job 20:5, NIV--a lifetime).
2. "Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place, and he will not be there" (Psa 37:10, NASB – around 3,000 years since spoken).
3. "In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment" (Isa 54:8, NASB--70 years).
4. "For thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land" (Hosea 2:6, NASB--spoken 500 years before Jesus was born).
5. "Thou didst make Him for a little while lower than the angels." "Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels" (Heb 2:9, RSV--33 years).
6. "For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay" (Heb 10:37, NIV– 2,000 since spoken).
7. "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials . . . after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you" (1 Pet 1:6; 5:10, NASB--often, a lifetime).
8. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor 4:17, KJV--a perspective of the entirety of life).
The above texts reflect the manner of the Kingdom. When things are viewed in the light of eternity, time is no longer the principle thing. Only faith – justifying faith – can stand the test of time. Those who "depart from the faith" do so because they have not been able to endure the test of time (Luke 8:13).
The Apostles appeared to write as though the coming of the Lord and the end of all things were imminent – to take place in their generation. But that is only an appearance. This was not an intellectual view, but a view of faith. You cannot approach the Bible in a scholastic, or mere academic manner, and get the sense of the text. For some, that appears unreasonable, but only because they do not know the superiority of faith! Abraham believed God and lived by hope, even when, from an earthly point of view, it was not reasonable. Thus, it is written, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed . . . " (Rom 4:18, NIV).
The "end of all things" is an intriguing subject, tantalizing the intellect of men. This condition requires extraordinary spiritual discipline. We must allow the Word of God to speak to our hearts, majoring on believing its testimony. If it seems unreasonable, believe it anyway! God will not talk about "the end of all things" like a twentieth century news reporter. He will speak with eternity in view. He will lay the temporalities of this life along side eternity, and call them "short," "brief," and "momentary." He will speak of the passing of the heavens and the earth as though it were going to take place in the next moment. He will call upon you to view the return of His Son and the conclusion of your suffering as though it were the next thing to occur.
Faith must have a message like this! It must live in view of eternity, and perceive the temporary handicaps of life in the flesh as brief and momentary. That simply is the nature of spiritual life.
It would not have been comforting to Adam and Eve to hear God say the promised Seed would come in 4,000 years! God did not tell Abraham Isaac would not be born for 25 years. Haggai did not say the "Desire of all nations" would not come for 500 years, nor did Isaiah promise the gift of a Son in 700 years! The Lord did not tell David He would raise up One to sit upon his throne in 1,000 years. Jesus did not say He would return to take His disciples to Himself in over 2,000 years. See, that is not the manner of the Kingdom. He does not appeal to our heads, or our analytical abilities, but to our hearts and our faith!
The heart is superior to the mind, and faith is superior to logic, having its own principle of reasoning. It is important to see this! Faith does not live with today's crises in mind, but with the next truly significant events in mind – events in which hope will come to fruition. When faith hears "at hand," it moves the one possessing it to adjust the manner of life to the circumstance that is "at hand." It is thus "at hand" in perspective, in value, and in conscience. It may very well be "at hand" from the standpoint of time also.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to live with Your purpose and determinations in mind.