Living in the Last Days

I was reminded of this text yesterday when I read a front-page article of a daily newspaper. It was entitled, “Generation Y has no use for God.” Generation Y refers to those born after 1982 and according to a recent book published by the Church of England fewer than one in five believes in a God “who created the world and hears my prayers.” The book goes on to say that religion is not really relevant to most young people who, instead of relying on God, rely on a secular trinity of themselves, their family and friends to give meaning to life.

According to the New Testament, the “last days” began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17) and will end when Jesus comes again. The text above tells us that in these days people will be lovers of themselves rather than lovers of God. The first century believers were distinctly different from the world and it was costly to many of them. They were expecting the end of the last days, the coming again of the Lord Jesus, to happen any day and they lived in the light of this.

Peter told his readers that Jesus will return “like a thief in the night.” In other words, just as thieves don’t announce their coming but come suddenly and unexpectedly, so will Jesus. His coming is certainly nearer today than it was for those first believers.

Peter also told his readers how they should live, the kind of people they ought to be, in the light of the return of Jesus. They were exhorted to live holy and godly lives, to look forward to the day when the same Jesus who was taken up into heaven, will come again. He even said that their manner of life would even speed the final day. (2 Peter 3:11-12)

There is a challenge for us who profess to belong to Christ and say we are waiting for Him to return. When our lives are daily lived for Him, we have purpose and promise for the present and future whatever our circumstances may be. A song by Mark Altrogge concludes with ‘I want to see the Lord come again in my generation. I want to see the Lord come again while I am alive. I want to give my life for something that will last forever. I delight, I delight to do Your will’.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You that true meaning in life is found in the Lord Jesus and in living for Him and not for myself. Please change me into the kind of person I am created to be so that I live my life day by day in the light of the return of Your Son. Amen.