Glen Avon Presbyterian Church

“Back to the Present”

Rev. Lon Weaver

Disaster and crisis has been in the news: the incredible storms and flooding in the United States; the earthquakes, tsunami, and nuclear disasters in Japan; wars and U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, with air support for the war in Libya; and ongoing worldwide economic crisis fueling political debate at home and abroad. Disasters and crisis are part of the fabric of history of existence. Each time disasters arise, some try to interpret their specific meaning or message for their time. For people of faith, the discussion can lead to questions of whether God has created and targeted the disasters (particularly troubling in light of the innocent ones destroyed), what God is trying to tell us, what human actions provoked the disastrous action of God, and so the spirit of the questions often proceed.

What do we do with these matters of great trauma which understandably create great concern and interest. One way to respond is illustrated by recent examples. Radio preacher, Harold Camping, created a stir earlier this year when he predicted that the world would end on May 21, 2011. A few years ago, the movie 2012 (based on a Mayan calendar) predicted December 12, 2012 (12/12/12) as a day of apocalyptic events. Frankly, these become negative testimonies against religion—Christianity, in particular—when the prophecies prove to be false. Such predictions join a long line of errant prophecies about the end of history.

Another response is illustrated by Matthew 24 and 25. In Matthew 24, Jesus warns,

‘Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.’ (24:4-8)

Yet, he continues a little later, “‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’” (24:36) Further, in the chapter to follow, in the great judgment scene, he communicates quite strongly what our priorities should be in “the now”, within history:

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ (25:34-40)

Jesus seems to be saying, “Stop worrying about end-time predictions. Do the present-time work. Then, you’re being faithful.” In this summer of 2011, let’s recommit ourselves to present faithfulness and leave future blessedness in the hands of God.