What’s Important About the End?

1 Peter 4:7-11

As I was going through the old library books and weeding through them, there were a lot of books focused on the end times. There has been a major fad over a long time regarding the end times. It peaked around the turn of the century with the Left Behind series. It’s interesting that we’ve been living in these seeming end times for over 2000 years and yet the speculation and imagination of it only grows. Why are we so focused on the end that we become people literally staring into the sky? Jesus never wanted us to sit around and wait for His return. When He left, He told His disciples to go!

But it’s been rough on these early believers: persecution, dispersion, exhaustion from travelling, fear, malnourishment, and yet still the beckoning call of the mission at hand to make disciples who make disciples who make disciples. Peter has gone on and on about how they are to use their suffering as a witness, to stay focused on the mission to build the Kingdom of God. Thankfully today, Peter offers a reprieve.

Okay, so it might not seem like much of a reprieve, but there is a focal change here that is more important than you might think. So far, the focus of Peter’s challenge to them has been about living their lives out in front of non-believers so that they can see your good works and suffering and turn to God. In this passage, however, the focal point isn’t about those outside the church, but those in the church. The audience has changed and there is a significant advantage to that. As the old adage goes, there is no I in team.

Be Aware of Eschatology

One of the first things you want to notice here is that this passage begins and ends with a focus on the end – eternity. The theological term eschatology means the study of end times. Peter states this directly; v7 begins with the statement that the end is at hand and v11 ends with the idea of everything will end up glorifying God through Jesus. His dominion is forever and ever. Our time, our age has an end date. In a conversation with a friend recently I referred to myself in the group with the older men; it was a weird position to realize I’m in! Whether you look at this personally (we are all growing older and our time is passing), or corporately, it is clear that this world has an end date and the time is now to realize and work with this truth. Peter has actually been hinting at this throughout the letter. He has sprinkled time-based imperatives throughout – back in 1:4-5 he says we are driven by the hope of heaven; in 1:8-9 we trust that we will see Him; 2:12 directly states that God will come back; in 4:5 from last week he reminded us that we will all give an account to the Judge, and later in ch4 he says that judgment is beginning.

Most everyone has heard about John Elway and his famous 98 yard at the end of a game against Cleveland to tie and ultimately with that game. I’m sure many of you also remember or have heard of Dallas Cowboy Leon Lett’s famous Thanksgiving blunder after blocking a last second field goal by Miami, that instead of counting the last few seconds off the clock, stopped the clock and gave possession back to Miami. The Cowboys lost that game. Being aware of the end is vitally important, but not so we watch the clock tick down. Like Elway, we need to use every second of the game clock to the absolute best of our ability. And here is how.

Be Driven to Action

Think, love, act. Peter’s commands here follow a very logical course. Be sober-minded and self-controlled. Think with your head, make calculated decisions so that you can pray with intent, clarity and power as you commune with the Lord. Be purposeful and intentional! Don’t be ruled by emotions but let Christ rule your mind with thoughtfulness and care so that you can think clearly to handle whatever opportunities Christ hands you. And those thoughts must be focused on loving each other. He is referring to other believers: your church family. That word for love is agape, meaning never-stopping, never giving up always and forever—unconditional love. And it is shown with action. Offer hospitality and use your gifts to serve one another.

Next Steps

Delighting in church family is a value of ours because scripture teaches there is no I in team. But the idea in delighting is not about receiving it, but giving it. Be the church to the people in the church.

1. Don’t get lost in end times teaching. Know enough to keep you motivated to work in the King’s mission.
2. Be a learning student of scripture so that your mind can be transformed and your focus can stay on Christ.
3. Love and serve others through hospitality and your particular gifting so that God is glorified through you.

God told Daniel in 12:9 to get back to work instead of focusing on the end. Your work starts with people here. We need you – there is no I in team, so be Jesus to the people here. Start today!