The End of the World ... And I Feel Fine

Will 2012 be the last year of planet Earth as we know it? Frankly, I don't know. But you would have to be living under a rock not to have heard the possibility.

As a result of an end in the Mayan Long Calendar, there is a definite fervor surrounding the possibility of this year being our last. Books have been published, movies released, and all variety of news media have covered this "potential" event ad nauseum. (When searching for basic information, I found that USA Today covered this as early as March 2007.)

I imagine that there are some who are concerned about this possibility. There are certainly others who have and will continue to scoff. After all, apocalyptic predictions have occurred in many years, including at least twice in 2011 (see ABC News' "2012 End-of-the-World Countdown Based on Mayan Calendar Starts Today"). So far, none has been correct. And since I have no prophetic ability myself, I won't be making my own guess. My purpose here is merely to offer an alternative thought process.

In a recent Lutheran Hour Ministries Daily Devotion, Pastor Ken Klaus recalled the words of Colonel Abraham Davenport, an American politician who served in the Connecticut legislature during the American Revolution. As the story goes, on New England's Dark Day (19 May 1780), the sky became so abnormally dark that candles were required from noon until midnight. The Connecticut State Council, fearing the darkness might be a sign that the Last Judgment was approaching, called for adjournment. In response, Colonel Davenport responded:

"I am against an adjournment. The day of judgment is either approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause of an adjournment; if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish therefore that candles may be brought."

Perhaps Colonel Davenport was familiar with the Gospel of Matthew. In chapter 24, we find these words from Jesus:

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. [...] Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:36, 42-44, NIV - bold emphasis is mine)

No one knows but God, so it is pointless for us to fret over when. Of critical importance to us: What will we be doing when the time comes? If, like Colonel Davenport, we are going about our duty, then we can say (with all due respect to R.E.M.) "It's the end of the world as we know it and [we] feel fine."

Question(s): If you knew with certainty that this were the last year, would you change the way you live? If so, will you consider making these changes today?