Or as the French say: ‘En-garde.’ It’s said by the referee at the beginning of a fencing match. The expression signals the participants to be on the alert, the combat is about to begin. Watch out, your opponent is about to attack. In the military when the troops hear the crisp announcement: ‘attention,’ they know they need to snap to a rigid standing posture, giving full attention to their superiors. Something is about to happen: new orders will be given, an event will be initiated, or some form of protocol will be inaugurated. Sounds can be used to get the same effect. A police officer in a squad car may sound their siren in order to have a driver pull over to the curb, or a warning horn on a pole may sound in order to indicate an impending event that has the potential to harm those in the vicinity. Or there may be an unexpected announcement made on various media. Something has happened that concerns the public, an explosion has taken place, a railroad train has derailed, or a significant fire has broken out. Locations are given, and the threat’s evaluated so that those who are in harm’s way may respond appropriately to protect themselves.

Here in Florida, we’ve just had such an event. It’s hurricane season for this state and, in recent days much attention has been given to a hurricane that developed in the Gulf of Mexico. The formation of this phenomenon began hundreds of miles away from Florida and the storm was carefully monitored over the next few days as it developed and moved toward the gulf coast of the state, fluctuating in intensity before making landfall. It was because of these observations that much effort was made to help limit loss of life. Evacuations from various areas along the coast were encouraged, prompting many residents to get out of the way before the storm arrived. And emergency services were set up to better deal with the impact of the storm on those who remained, helping to limit loss of life. There was a measure of relief in the aftermath because the impact of the storm wasn’t near as tragic as it might have been. Nevertheless, there was loss of life, and tremendous damage was inflicted on various areas from the hurricane and destructive tornadoes that touched down. There were even tornadoes in the vicinity where I live near the Atlantic coast. It was an amazing experience that produced several days of anticipation, prompting preparations for a worst-case scenario that included the accumulation of food stores, gasoline, and other necessities that would be needed if the usual sources for those basic items were compromised for any length of time.

Fortunately it didn’t have a significant impact on my life, or the lives of those dear to me. It was, however, a demonstration of something that everyone needs to consider whether they like it or not. What happened was that everyone’s comfort zone was compromised—some more than others, but everyone to a certain extent. And that should give us pause. It’s so easy to do life routinely. We have a pattern that’s comfortable, or at least familiar. We expect our days ahead to be similar to the days we’ve left behind. We read about dire circumstances in other parts of the world as observers. We see carnage that results from wars, or crime. We see destruction that comes from weather events elsewhere. Even this contentious election that’s upon us is only theoretically dire, at least in the short term. America has lasted this long, so it will probably continue in the aftermath of our version of political upheaval. We’ll figure it out. A solution to the problems at hand will be found. We’ll get through it…won’t we? Probably…maybe…I hope so. We’ll have to see…or will we? That’s really the question isn’t it? Will we see it? Will it be there to be seen? Will the world—as we know it—be there to be seen?

According to what I read in the Bible the world’s coming to an end…right? The end of the age was affirmed in the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples before His ascension saying:

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)

The age will come to an end…apparently. But when will it end? And, more importantly, how are you and I going to act now given that anticipated outcome? The challenge here is: are we going to act as if this foretelling were true! The Apostles were certainly motivated in their time. The Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost, enabling them—emboldening them—to declare the reality and significance of the Christ. And repentant believers were drawn into the ecclesia—the Church—that was established, organized and extended into the Roman world. They rubbed up against the surrounding culture as they spread the Word of Jesus Christ. Some suffered for it to the point of death. Others brought it with them as they moved into the outer reaches of the empire. They challenged the culture with this message that contrasted so sharply with the idolatry of the ancient world, and the traditional Judaism that informed their past. Along the way they had to characterize their beliefs more sharply, explaining the significance of their Christian convictions, affirming the features of their faith in greater detail. And in the end the effort, through faith in God and the power of the Holy Spirit, prevailed, producing a Christianized Roman Empire, and a Christian culture that was maintained even after the empire was eclipsed by the nation states that developed in the Middle Ages.

However, something began to happen within the Church during the era in which the original Apostles were ministering, something that continues down to this day. Christians began to be unduly influenced by the surrounding culture even while continuing to embrace the message of the Christ. This is first made evident in the Epistle of James which was written to Jewish believers who had escaped Jewish persecution in Jerusalem during the early days of the Church. In the course of the letter James encouraged Godly behavior that was consistent with genuine faith and a proper understanding of the Church. And, along the way, he also emphasized how these new Christians were to understand their place in the world.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:13-17)

The point to be made here is that Jesus declared that the age we live in will come to an end, and that the Holy Spirit will accompany us in the meantime. (Matthew 28; Acts 1) And James argued that this declaration from the Christ should inform the way we engage the surrounding culture in the meantime. We’re supposed to watch what we’re doing, informed by the “warning” that the world, as we know it will come to an end. And conduct ourselves in a manner that anticipates this event.

Are we heeding that warning (and it is a warning of sorts)? Jesus said He was coming back; he said that His kingdom would be established upon His return and there were those who anticipated that His return would be soon—perhaps in their lifetime. This anticipation is indicated in the opening verses of John’s apocalyptic revelation saying “the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3) Peter in his second Epistle addressed this issue as well stating:

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:8-10)

The question I’m asking is: Are we taking a posture of anticipation? In these past few days we were encouraged in Florida to take such a posture as the predictions for a significant weather event were made. The indicators were presented, and past events were used as evidence for a probable landfall of severe weather. An effort was made to prepare for such an event; to take the warnings seriously. Preparations were made by the authorities and by individuals: changing locations, securing buildings, storing a stockpile of necessities. In the process people listened for announcements, and anticipated the possibilities. People were watchful and alert. For many—or most—it wasn’t just business as usual. We were paying attention. We were ‘on guard’ for an assault.

Now the threat is over. Things are returning toward normalcy as damage is being assessed and repairs are being initiated. Over the next few months the impact of the storm will gradually disappear and, future events notwithstanding, eventually the effect of this circumstance will be diminished—until the next threat appears on the horizon. The fact that such events do reoccur periodically prevents them from being completely forgotten, but such is not the case when it comes to the apocalyptic predictions in the Scriptures. It’s difficult to get our minds around such a circumstance. We may imagine such events in science fiction, but the reality of our world actually coming to end is hard to grasp in everyday life. But that’s exactly what we need to do, if we’re going to take the Bible seriously. And I would say that taking such a position will affect how we go about our daily lives. That unexpected encounter with someone may take on an enhanced importance, prompting us to share our faith more readily. The importance we give to the possessions we have, or wish for, may be reevaluated and examined in the light of this anticipation. Our diligence to truly reflect our Savior in all that we do and think might be reinforced. It should prompt us to respond to the challenge that the Apostle John gave us:

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7)

In keeping with this I would also point out that there is a significant conflict taking place right now that is in line with the Biblical events of the ancient world. I’m referring to the current conflict in the Middle East. Israel has embarked on a vicious war with an opposition informed by Islam. When I say this I’m not promoting a particular assessment of the Lord’s involvement in this action, or attempting to pinpoint it on an end-of-the-world timeline. But it is interesting to note that the participants on both sides deny the deity of Jesus Christ. If nothing else this should prompt us to take seriously the reality of a world that will come to an end at some point. God exists and His plans will be fulfilled, and life as we know it will be redefined.

Amen and Amen!