The Day Before the Apocalypse
Originally scheduled for
May 1
You do not have to be in the church very long to know that the
return of Christ is a topic of great interest. Most of us don't have
a particular opinion of this, but those who do have no hesitation
about enlightening the rest of us. In this we may see certain
characteristics:
·
Every one of them are absolutely certain they have it exactly right.
·
They don't agree with each other.
·
If you wait long enough, the dates they are so sure of often become
past tense.
Those of us who are not real enthusiasts for one particular
theory or other admit that we really don't know what the last day
before the Apocalypse will look like. Indeed, our Lord tells us that
it will be like the last days of Noah. People went about their
business, people got married, people did the things that people
always do. So perhaps the last day before the Apocalypse will look
just like any other day. But who can say for sure?
But there will be a last day. That being the case, there will be
a last communion as well. We should therefore consider the nature of
communion:
·
We celebrate the central event of human history. The death, burial
and resurrection of Jesus Christ outshines all other events.
·
It's not a military event, nor a political one. It's not an economic
movement — but it is eternal. That's why it's central; everything
else is temporary.
·
We do this "until He comes again." He will come again; therefore
there will be a last communion.
What will that last communion be like? It will probably seem like
all the other communions we've ever taken. We are told that we will
not know when he comes, so we won't know which one is the last one.
Therefore, we should take every communion as if it were the last one
ever. How do we do that?
·
May I suggest that we begin with reverence? It is easy to fall into
the habit of getting through communion as fast as possible. But
consider that you are told that this is the body and blood of
Christ; is that a reason to hurry?
·
Take this communion with remembrance as well. It is to remind you of
what Christ did on the Cross. Consider his wounds; he took them for
you.
·
Take this communion with hope. For those who believe, the last
communion is not a terror but a joy. For we celebrate until he comes
again; we celebrate in the hope of his return.
