Reading what Jesus says about the end of the world can be a rough experience - especially if you've never really considered what Matthew records him saying in Matthew 24.

After watching the movie Armageddon, "The End" became real for me. I was young and probably got too caught up in the loss of romance. Regardless, it left me with a lot of questions.

Over the years, I have sought answers about the end times. As a pastor, I have studied different theologies around what scripture says about what will happen next.

What I have discovered is that while there is a diversity of perspectives, scripturally speaking, there are at least three guarantees about the end of the world—and only one way to prepare for it.

Guarantee 1: There will be an end.

They say that two things are certain: death and taxes.

I'll leave taxes up to economists. But I can say that Jesus' return at the end of human time is unavoidable.

In 1964, Robert Lamont published in Christianity Today that the return of Christ is mentioned 318 times in the 260 chapters of the New Testament and that this teaching occupies 1 in every 25 verses from Matthew to Revelation. Others have said that for every verse about His birth, there are eight about his return. In the New Testament, one of every 30 verses talks about Jesus coming back.

However you count, you cannot deny that there will be an end of this life on earth - either through our human death or Jesus' return.

Guarantee 2: You can't control it.

Matthew records Jesus saying nobody except God the Father knows when Jesus is returning. In other words, we cannot control when it happens.

Throughout history, there have been predictions of dates, events, and locations of when, where, and how Jesus will return. Jesus is clear; nobody will know. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 describes Jesus' return coming like a thief in the night.

It will be unexpected and you cannot control when, where, or how it will happen.

Guarantee 3: You will not be able to take anything with you.

Human logic tells us that we entered the world with nothing, and the same is true when we depart from it.

When reading the story of Job in the Bible, we will discover when life falls apart, Job says, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised". (Job 1:21)

Thousands of years later, Paul tells Timothy that since we brought nothing into the world, we can take nothing out of it. (1 Timothy 6:7).

We don't bring anything with us at the beginning and cannot take anything with us at the end.

So, how do we prepare for the end?

Jesus says to "keep watch and be ready" (Matthew 25:13).

Jesus explains that keeping watch is like having oil in your lamp. Biblically, oil often represents the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.

What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?

Jesus has already filled us with His Holy Spirit. It is already alive in us (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Holy Spirit always helps us see Jesus (Matthew 25:31-46) and give glory to God the Father (John 12:27).

And how do we know that we’re filled with the Spirit?

We faithfully love God and love people by serving our neighbors like Jesus until “the end”.

What do you think? Send me an email, or let's schedule a time to talk.

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My conversations tend to revolve around three main topics: kids, family, and work. These are the pillars of my personal experiences, and they naturally dominate my discussions.

However, when I step back and listen to others, I encounter different conversation: housing and food insecurity, human rights, politics, climate change, substance abuse, clean water, and global health. The list goes on and there isn't enough time to have a meaningful conversation about every topic that comes up.

Despite this, the act of listening and talking is fundamental to human communication. It's how we connect, understand, and share our experiences and ideas.

As followers of Jesus, we might wonder what we have to contribute to these conversations. The answer is, quite a lot, but perhaps not in the way one might expect.

Jesus taught that He only did what He saw His Father doing. This means that even Jesus didn’t introduce new ideas but rather echoed what God had already spoken.

This is reassuring for us because it means we don't need to come up with new solutions or perspectives on our own. God has already provided guidance on these matters.

The challenge becomes whether we are familiar with what God has said. Have we taken the time to listen to His Word? It's true that without God's Word, the content of our conversations become limited to opinions and best practices.

And while opinions and best practices aren't bad, they're incomplete.

Opinions and best practices are often fleeting and subject to change. Compare that with God's Word which is eternal and unchanging. It provides a solid foundation for our conversations and actions.

Our true voice and the most meaningful contributions we can make come from aligning our words with God's eternal truths... His Word - and that's why without God's Word, we have little of lasting value to say.

What do you think? Send me an email or let's find a time to meet up.

Why are you a Christian?

I could say that a Christian because my parents are practicing Christians, meaning I grew up and was enculturated in the Christian lifestyle. I can also say that after an up-and-down journey of searching for identity, meaning, and purpose, I chose to adopt the ways of Jesus as my own. It was a twisty, wind-y path, for sure.

The truth is, there are many reasons I'm a Christian today. One of those reasons is that the way of Jesus is the only way of life I know, which allows for, is okay with, and leads me (and every human being) through joy and suffering.

I tend to welcome joy with open arms. Not so much with suffering. Author, historian, and scholar Kate Bowler says, "Suffering is a slow burn, and it never really ends". In other words, suffering is part of the human experience. You cannot escape suffering.

And still, every other spiritual and religious system cannot hold suffering for what it is: part of life.

To be clear, suffering stinks... and I'm not the best at living with it. I tend to want answers and reasons.

We are told that suffering must be avoided to experience enlightenment and become centered. Or, suffering must be eliminated to achieve existential peace. I've recently read that suffering must be denied to reach a place of self-actualization and a vision board of your ideal life.

Jesus' way is different. After all, Jesus calls himself the way, the truth, and the life. He then says humanity can only experience a whole and complete life (the joys and sufferings) through Him. A whole and complete life is one of both joy and suffering.

The scriptures testify that along with the joy and giggles, Jesus doesn't deny suffering. Instead, He considers it part of what makes Him (and us) human. Jesus doesn't eliminate suffering; He receives it. Jesus doesn't avoid suffering; He walks right into betrayal, beatings, bullying, and death.

For me, if God's best plan is to send Jesus to suffer and die on a cross, lose his entire family, take on the sin of the entire world, and believe that there is no better way than to walk through death itself… if that way is good enough for Jesus… It's good enough for me, too.

Only in and through Jesus' way can our lived experiences have the space to fully hold the stink of suffering.

So, how do I live like Jesus when it comes to suffering?

Most self-help approaches encourage engaging in activities to redirect your thoughts. I do them. But, honestly, they're quick respites or ways of coping with suffering - none of them lead me through suffering.

So, I take a cue from the someone who has lived through suffering: Jesus.

Jesus experienced happiness, anger, grief, loss, excitement, sadness, and anxiety. I remind myself to be present with what I am feeling. Those feelings are genuine and will return.

I will then invite Jesus to sit with me in those feelings. Jesus understands, and I am promised that the Holy Spirit will connect me back to God through wordless groans when I am too weak to know what to pray for (Romans 8:26).

I'm far from perfect when it comes to living with suffering.

At the same time, I can say that more often than not, God shows and reminds me that His miracle isn't that the suffering is avoided, eliminated, or denied. . . it is that Jesus is still here with me in it and walking me through it.

And that's (one of the reasons) why I'm a Christian.
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Why are you a Christian?

Email me, leave a comment, or let's grab time to catch up.

I want to control how long I live.

I go to the doctor as a preventative measure to catch little things before they become big things. I eat (reasonably) well and exercise. My financial planner is looking at us living well into our 90s.

These are all good things that support stewarding the body and life and the gifts God has given me to glorify Him and bless others.

This past month, two influential men in my life unexpectedly died. One of them was kind of expected. The other was completely unexpected.

​Then, last week, a brother pastor only a few years older than me died.

Clearly, I cannot control how long I will live.

This past week, I have been thinking a lot about “the afterlife”—heaven. So, I spent some extra devotion time reading God’s Word about heaven. Here are some thoughts I’m treasuring about heaven today.

Heaven is real. I have unwavering confidence in a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1).

Heaven is filled with peace and goodness. Unlike the ominous sea symbolizing chaos and evil, heaven has a life-giving river, symbolizing peace and goodness (Revelation 22:1-5).

There is a reunion with loved ones. The new city (Jerusalem) represents God’s faithful people being gathered together in the ultimate place of peace (Revelation 21)

There is no more sorrow. There will be no pain, death, or negative emotions in heaven—only joy and completeness (Revelation 21:5).

There is so much more, too.

In the meantime, my faith leads me to echo the words of the psalmist: "I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done." (Psalm 118:17)

What do you think heaven is like? Email me, or let’s catch up over tea or coffee.