I can’t worry about the last days, there’s too much work to do

 I can’t bring myself to worry about the end of times. Two main reasons.

First no man knoweth means no man knoweth. We can’t know. We won’t know. And anyone who says otherwise is contradicting scripture.

Second we are making so much progress for humanity in general and we can’t deny that. And it leaves us so much more to do. Deaths have declined. Suffering. Poverty. Health is improving. Disease is confronted some even eradicated. Civil rights have improved. Even crime has decreased.

So I look at these and I just see both the motivation and desire to put in the work. To do good.

I heard statement this weekend that struck me. I’m going to be paraphrasing badly. But the essence is this. It’s no the afterlife that motivates me in my faith in Christ, but in building the world now.

That’s how I’ve always felt and it’s amazing to have that sentiment articulated somehow.

I think a lot of this is motivated by how I view justice and mercy. How I’m more motivated by what to than I am by what not to do. How I want to strive for something than against something. How I want to be motivated by faith and not by fear.

Often when we thin about the end of days we hear about the apocalypse, the book of Revelation, and we get a heaping load of anxiety, fear, and distress. I don’t think that’s what God wants for his children.

See there is an undercurrent that things only get worse until his coming, and that the only way to avoid any of the hardships and tribulations is through righteousness. That you can purify yourself against discomfort and pain. I wish that were true but I think it misses the mark.

First I think that framing is just disguised prosperity gospel. It’s an idea that righteousness automatically entitles one to temporal wellbeing and blessings above others. And it’s a false idea. Good people have hard times. They aren’t immune from them. They can’t ignore them. And they happen whether we repent or not. We can’t compel the blessing we want from God. To think so is folly. We’re part of this world and everything that happens to it. Leading me to the next thought I had. 

Second I don’t want to be motivated by fear to the point where I stop helping people. I want to strive for something. I want to do the good works that God has for me to do. I want to emulate the Savior in word and deed. How the heck do I do that hiding away and waiting for the end of the world? How do I make a difference and serve out my purpose? I can’t.

I think my need to almost ignore the prophecies of end times boils down to this. It’s not essential for my salvation and the fear it can bring can prevent me from doing the things that bring about the salvation of others. The only beneficial aspect of reflecting on it is to give me a bit of urgency to repent/change now, and do all I can to help others (especially my children).

As I change and pivot toward a focus on standing for instead of against I find the need for more hope. For more goodness. And I can’t do that in fear. I need to do it in a place of worry. 

We have made so much progress and there is so much more good to do. Let’s focus on that. Instead of anything else.