Jump Start # 3554

2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”

Did you see the eclipse Monday? It was amazing! I watched it from an old cemetery. The sky was changing. It was looking like dusk. Several buzzards were crying out and flocking to a tree. They must have thought it was time for bed. Then the street lights came on. Then it got very dark. I was amazed at how dark it was. I could not see across the cemetery. I wondered about the three hours of darkness when our Lord was upon the cross. I thought about the three days of darkness in Egypt. But, very shortly a sliver of the sun peaked out and it seemed like someone flipped on the light switch. It became very bright. This was the first complete or total eclipse that I have seen.

The next total eclipse for my area Indiana won’t happen for more than a hundred years. As the eclipse was taking place, I walked over, in the darkness to the grave of a famous Indiana preacher. He would have been alive at the last total eclipse, in 1869. He didn’t see this one. I saw this one, but I won’t see the next one.

Those that calculate eclipses tell us that in 2135, Indiana will have another total eclipse. As I thought about that, I wondered if that ole’ Indiana preacher ever thought the year 2024 would come around. That date likely seemed so far away he may have believed the world would end before then.

And, that’s where I’m at with 2135. That seems so far way. Will this world still be around then? Ignoring the alarmists who claim that global warming will destroy the planet in a few years, which is skeptical scientifically and erroneous Biblically, how long will this world continue on?

We know there is a time when Jesus comes. And, when He does, the earth and all its works will be burned up. Our verse today declares that. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins ends with, be on the alert for you do not know the day nor the hour. God keeps His promises, and Jesus has promised to gather His people home to Him.

Here are some thoughts:

First, one day, some day, will be the final day here on planet earth. People will have made plans expecting that life would continue on. Letters mailed, that would never be read. Books printed that were never sold. Business plans that never were completed. Houses under construction that were never lived in. Babies in wombs that never got born. People awaiting trial that never saw justice served. Debts that never got paid. Students who never completed their studies and received a degree. Vacations that were anticipated but never enjoyed. Apologizes never offered. Time ran out. One day, it will be that last day. I hope it’s a Sunday, the best day of the week. But, I don’t know.

Second, when that one final day comes, the history of life will have been written. No more discoveries. No more research. No more inventions. It will be a day unlike anything in history. There has never been a day like that final day will be. There is no example in history. There are no parallels from earlier times. The living will be changed in an instant, the Corinthians were told. All the dead will be raised. The skies will be filled with angels. I thought about that on our eclipse day. So many looking skyward, looking up. That will happen again, when Jesus comes. There won’t be any need to interview people, record events, take pictures, because that will be the end. There won’t be anyone nor any way to share those things with.

Third, there will be a lot of fear that day. Many won’t understand. Many have chosen to believe anything and everything but God’s word. In some ways, that last day will be terrifying. I expect some will be screaming. Some will be running. Some will be pleading. There will be no place to flee to. There will be no place that can shelter you. But for the believers, we’ve understood that this day was coming. They will know it’s the Lord. They will know what’s happening and what will happen. To their knees, I expect they will fall, in praise to the God that they have loved for so long.

Fourth, as our culture becomes darker and darker and indifferent and ignoring the pleas of God, one wonders just how much longer God will put up with these things. Will God give it another hundred years? Will God give it another thousand years? Or, is the last day coming soon? We’d sure like to know. Don’t be looking for signs in eclipses, earthquakes and international wars. That’s not the way God operates. There are not signs. When the Father is ready, when patience has run out, Jesus will be sent.

All of this begs us to be walking seriously with the Lord. We must quit playing church and stop the childish games of selfishness. Jesus is coming. That’s certain. As future eclipses are mapped out and dated, we know, one day, some day, all of this will end.

Eclipses in a cemetery. Great lessons to be learned. There’s a great day coming, a great day coming…

Roger