These things are bound to happen. Jesus assures us that history will continue to unfold with both tragedy and holiness. While we see the bad in our world, we also see the good in our world and we live in hope. So many voices tell us the end is near, but in reality, no one knows but the father. Those things that Jesus speaks of – wars, insurrections, famine and plagues – will occur again as they have throughout history, but likewise, there is much good in the world that continues to happen. We are not to worry about the end, but about doing the good which is our wisdom, a wisdom given by God to all his people. If we keep busy doing the good, we need not worry about when the end will come because we will be prepared.
We live in hope for and faith in the return of Jesus and the consummation of God’s plan. We live each day in the great mystery of human life. We do not follow those who claim to know the end, but we embrace our faith in God and live in active service to God’s will and plan of salvation. We are part of the birth of a new world rooted in Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit. As we carry out the mission of holiness, we do so in the hope of God’s ultimate victory in Christ, the salvation of the world and the gift of eternal life. So, we are an active people as we await in hope the second coming. Do not be afraid for the Lord is with us at every moment in history C.S. Lewis said, “Hope is one of the Theological virtues. This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is.” We wait. We work. We look forward. The Lord is coming.