This is a phrase many, or most, of us recognize. We may not know that it’s a phrase from one of Shakespeare’s plays but we’ve heard the phrase nonetheless. The character in the play was actually contemplating suicide, but I’m using it to consider how we as Christians are supposed to act in this weird world. I use the term weird as a catchall for the many unusual things that are happening these days. Political upheaval, threatening weather, catastrophes of various kinds, globalization, technological “advances;” taken together they render this period as unusual, exciting and scary all at the same time. We, as Christians, stand in the middle of it all trying to understand how to make sense of it; at least we should be.

How are we supposed to act in the midst of all this? How are we supposed to deal with nature’s threats, political and cultural aggression, and the uncertainty of the future? Do we run and hide? Do we take sides? Or do we just hold our ground and pray for the Lord’s intervention? The answers are not forthcoming and I’m not here to provide a specific solution. What I do want to suggest is that we need to consider our approach to the challenges, that is to say the posture that we take as we navigate this tumultuous and challenging period. Should our aim be to simply reinforce our current situation in order to secure what we have? Or should we be looking to the Lord for understanding in these days, willing to embrace His agenda instead of our own?

It’s not an easy choice, especially for those who are invested in home and family. But the question remains: is our primary goal to secure our own fortunes or are we seeking to know the Lord in all that we do? This isn’t to suggest that our investments and responsibilities in this life aren’t important. We’ve made personal choices that affect others as well as ourselves, and we need to fulfill our responsibilities. But the manner in which we approach life and the challenges we face needs to be consciously considered. Are we about the Lord’s business in all that we do or do we compartmentalize our lives, acting differently in different situations? Do we let the arena we’re in dictate the posture we’re taking? Politics, business, personal relationships, the affairs of life; they’re all informed by a world that doesn’t acknowledge the reality of God. And yet we as Christians all need to participate in those activities. And the question is, Do we allow the Lord to inform our actions in these various circumstances, recognizing them as the environment in which to explore and engage the Gospel of the kingdom, or do we only do that at Church, or when we’re at home praying and reading the Bible? Is the Lord at work everywhere and at all times or only in the circumstances that we allot to Him?

The answers to these questions are informed in part by where we stand on certain points of—dare I say it—theology. I know that this term often conjures up visions of academics sitting around arguing obscure points of Christian teaching. However, whether we like it or not all of us are theologians after a fashion. Even atheists are theologians. And where we come down on certain Christian teachings can affect the way we conduct ourselves in the various situations in which we function.

A case in point concerns our view on “last things.” How is the world, as we know it, going to come to an end? The fact that it will end is accepted pretty much by all Christians. The question that plagues evangelicals is, how and when will it end? What will be the sequence of events that leads up to the end? How will we know when we’re close to the end? The Revelation of John provides a lot of fodder for this discussion utilizing fantastic imagery in its presentation of end times. And because of that it’s very difficult to draw definitive conclusions from this writing. However, if we’re investing in the Bible as the Word of God then we can be assured that there will be an end to this age; it’s just not clear how it will happen. References to this certainty are found throughout the Bible as indicated by the phrase “the day of the Lord” which was used to denote this event by Old Testament prophets and the apostles as well. (Isa 13:6, Joel 2:31, 1Cor 5:5, 2Pet 3:10)

One aspect of John’s presentation concerns a period of a thousand years that his vision anticipates in the sequence of events leading up to the end of the world. The term applied to it is “millennium” which is taken from two Latin words. And the questions regarding this period have to do with when this millennium will take place and what it will entail. And, more specifically, when will Jesus return in the course of history? I’m not going to try to answer these questions. In my view, no one really knows, and to cling too tightly to any one approach tends to obscure the more practical question regarding how we’re to be Christians here and now.

As we go through our day what are we trying to do? Is our goal to get ahead or, at least, to secure our current circumstances? Where does the Lord fit into our goals? What does He have to do with our everyday lives? Do we simply look to the Lord to help us achieve our goals or do we look to the Lord to define our goals as well? If you haven’t thought about this before then the answers may seem obvious. You’ve got needs and responsibilities that have dictated your actions. You’ve got to eat and you need a place to live, and you have obligations to others, especially if you’re married with children. This translates to securing and maintaining employment in some way. That’s a given so what is there to consider other than refusing to engage in obvious unchristian activities as an employee, an employer, or a coworker? Beyond that we may recognize the need to present the Gospel’s call for repentance to those with whom we rub elbows.

Now these are good things. Being responsible for our own maintenance and for the maintenance of those who are close to us, avoiding evil, and presenting the call to repentance are all good actions. But where does the Lord fit into this? Are we on our own in the world, aware of God, but having little to do with Him until we get to church, or when we take a few minutes each day to pray and read the Bible? If so, I’m here to tell you that you’re missing out. If your goal is to maintain an environment where you can continue to do life in this manner, you’re missing out. If you think that’s enough, you’re missing out.

God hasn’t called us out of the world so that we could reside on its outskirts where we do life in a Christianized manner. He’s called us into His kingdom where He rules and reigns! (See the dozens of references to the kingdom in the New Testament) But in order to enter into that kingdom we have to know that it’s there, and be willing to accept His governance, meaning submit to His lordship. For people of a democratic republic such as ours, that can be a tough sell. The existence of our country is derived from an effort to do away with a king so that we could govern ourselves. But that’s not the Lord’s agenda. He hasn’t called us out of the world so that we could act in a “Christianly” manner. He called us out of the world so that we could enter into a place where God rules and reigns. And we’re not merely residents of His domain we’re recognized as His children and heirs. (Col 1:13-14; 2 Cor 6:18)

Recognizing this and embracing it should redefine how we navigate our everyday lives. The Lord has called us into fellowship with Him. It isn’t simply a matter of being designated one of His children based on a decree; it’s an opportunity to know intimacy with Him, to secure an ongoing fellowship with Him that redefines how we do life. We’re not left on our own to do life with better credentials. We’re given an opportunity to do life in concert with Him everywhere we go and in whatever we do. But we have to be willing to let Him inform our thoughts and actions at home, at work, everywhere; commiserating with Him concerning our families, our politics, our pastimes, our finances, and everything else.

In such a posture, the precariousness of life—especially at this hour—is far less daunting. The world may be coming to an end, it may last another thousand years; we really don’t know. But doing life as a vital Christian here and now can be an exciting journey as we learn how to hear from God and follow His leading, seeking Him with expectation and relying upon His collaboration with us, informed and energized by His presence.