It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it,
and I feel fine.
End of the World, REM, 1987
This past Saturday was designated by a "Christian" group to be Judgment Day. According to this group, the Rapture would occur at 6 p.m., followed with Earthquakes, and within 6 months the world would end.
This prediction led to lots of discussions on end times in the media. My local paper suggested that we should smoke unfiltered camel cigarettes and eat Big Macs. I guess the thought process behind that was consequence free actions, a very hedonistic attitude. It did cause me, however, to think what I would do if I knew it was the end times, my last day on earth.
My actual Saturday would have changed somewhat. I definitely would not have bothered with the laundry. I would have made phone calls to my non-believing family members to try once more to encourage them to follow Jesus, as well as give them instructions on how they can still believe after the Rapture, and receive eternal life. And finally, I would have made sure that my immediate family was all together at the designated time, hugging each other one last time with our earthly bodies.
However, when I looked at the "bigger" picture, about how I would have lived my life differently, I really couldn't find any changes. I don't have any things I wish I'd done. I have no regrets, no relationships I need to restore. I am at peace with my life, my friendships, my marriage, and most importantly my relationship with God. He has offered me His grace and salvation, and I have accepted them 100%. And it feels completely satisfying to know I am living my life in such a way that ANY day can be Judgment Day, and it's okay.
So when the time comes I can say, "It's the end of the world as we know it...and I feel fine." How do you feel about end times? Are you ready? What changes do you need to make so that when your time comes to stand before the Lord, you can say, "I feel fine."
