English Standard Version
What would you do if you knew the world was going to end in a week? Or a month?
In the early church, there was a sense of anticipation that the world could end any day, that Christ would return and bring an end to all things. Over the last 2,000 years, we've certainly and understandably lost some of that sense of urgency. While it doesn't seem like Christ will return any day, we are wise to remember that we have no guarantees for tomorrow.
I suspect that if you took a survey around the world about what people would do if they knew the world would end, you'd get a wide, wide range of answers. Peter's advice, however, is to embrace the community in love, so that you spend your last hours, however many you may have, in service. In a way, you're preparing for eternity. When we think of the Kingdom of God as a place where there is nothing but selfless love devoted to the larger community, then how we live on earth should be practicing for this eternity. When we use our gifts in service to one another, then we are preparing ourselves for our eternal lives, living into the Kingdom of God while we're here on earth.
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