prophets of doom

a verse or two

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” Matthew 24:42

Spiritual Walk and Musings: What to do with prophets of doom.

We’ve heard of people leaving Nelson this weekend heading to Auckland to get away from a earthquake – they seriously believe the predictions of the moon man. Back in September 2010 the moon man predicted there will be an earthquake of substance this Sunday (March 20th) in the morning – in the top of the south (Marlborough or North Canterbury – that’s why I’ve gone up to the lake – to get closer to it). What are we as Christ followers to do with such prophets of doom? I would say carry on living as normal yet always prepared, always ready because we do not know the hour or the day when Jesus will return.

I find it interesting that Jesus, who was a true prophet – but so much more than a prophet – also predicted calamities and whatnot, but never the date (Mt 24). He also mentioned there would be a day the Lord would come but that the day and hour is unknown. It would seem to me that Jesus’ responses to questions of the future were much wiser than the moon man.

If Jesus gave us a date, we would live in fear of that date, and perhaps not even bother to be ready until that date. Come Tuesday 22nd March and no earthquake strikes – will people go back to being unprepared for an earthquake? As I understand it, seismologists tell us we all must be ready all of the time, with enough water and food to last three days so we can live without any assistance from rescue workers. This has been the same message for many years yet so many people have not bothered to be ready until the moon man’s prediction.

This living in tension of living life to the full and knowing it could all change in the twinkling of an eye – is not new to Christians. For the past 2000 years the saints have lived with the tension that Jesus Christ is returning soon.

The “soon” being who knows when, but we all know it is sooner than yesterday, and so soon is the best way to describe the time when Jesus will return. When will the next big earthquake strike on New Zealand's Alpine Fault – soon – we must always be ready. When will Christ return – soon – we must always be ready!

Something to do: Forgiveness.

Forgiveness is an integral part of Lent. Who in your life needs to be forgiven today? Who do you need to ask for forgiveness? This week, consider extending the hand of forgiveness to somebody who needs it.

To Ponder and Pray: A Prayer for Enemies

Lord Jesus Christ, who commanded us to love our enemies and all those who insult and hurt us, and to pray for them and forgive them; you yourself prayed for your enemies, who crucified you. Give us, we pray, a spirit of Christian reconciliation and meekness, so that we may forgive every injury and be reconciled with our enemies. Grant us Christian meekness and true love of our neighbour. Give to our enemies true peace and forgiveness of sins; and do not allow them to leave this life without true faith and sincere conversion. Help us to repay evil with goodness. Amen
[adapted from the Orthodox "Prayer for Enemies"]