Every story has a beginning, middle, and an end. There are protagonist, antagonist, settings and plots. (Sometimes too many plots) There is conflict and solution. Our lives are basically a story we have a beginning (baby-graduating college), middle (Career-Retirement, depending on what you do), and an end (Retirement-Eternity depending on what you believe). There are protagonist such as God, Christ, best friends, girlfriends, and parents. There are antagonist such as devil, enemy friends/rivals, ex-girlfriends, parents and even yourself. The settings are all determined where you grow up some in CA other NY, some Bakersfield, CA. The plots now are the most interesting that can range from going to middle school feeling awkward every single day of your life to breaking up with a girlfriend, from getting your first job to being laid off, to falling in love to finding that marriage is not always easy. Then when you’re retired in life you realize that you could have done more and you’re trying to figure out what’s next in life. (sounds alike when you get out of college). The plot is what drives the story to go forward. The conflict we face allows us to a person rise as the hero and make it a comedic end (Not funny but a happy) or we fall into despair and make our lives into a tragedy in the end. The plot of the story, where it’s going is unknown. The protagonist and antagonist are usually clearly seen. However their something the character goes through and it’s the character purpose. However in the end we find out what that is at the end of our lives. However the real question is how is it going to end and what is the purpose of the end?
This morning I was reading from 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11 it speaks about the time when Christ will come in a thief in the night and takes us up with him. This is the end and many Christian get stuck and loves to discuss this theology we can call Eschatology. (The theological notions of the End Times) We actually know the ending of our own story if you’re a believer of Christ. However we usually don’t act as though we know this fact, and when we realize we know this fact we act in a different way.
I think one of the reason is people and myself want to know how long we have, some want to know how much time do have to find a husband or wife, some want to know how much time they have to be with their grandchildren, some want to know how much time they have so they can decide when it’s okay to go for their dream job. Now these are not bad things within themselves, however the mentality of “How much time do I have to…” that’s the problem, that’s the issue.
We need to realize a couple of things of knowing the End. First the reason Paul let us know that a “END” is coming is so we are given urgency to save the lost, we are made aware in order for us to realize we need to be like Christ around everyone. We need to make sure our testimony (how we live) in this life will be a testimony that reflects the actions and attitudes of Christ.
The second thing we need to realize is that we don’t need to wait to star our dreams. God has given us talents, gifts, dreams, and passions. We need to strive to live out using all our gifts and talents. We can not allow fear to effect what we do. God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Tim 1:7) We need to takes those dreams and make them reality. Now sometimes what we think is our dream is really not it but I think through going four our dream will direct us to path that will resemble what God wants for us.
“THE END” will happen when it supposed to happen; Paul says it will come in like a thief in the night. For me and you we need not to worry if our hope is Christ. However we can’t allow our fear to overcomes us and stop us from achieving our dreams.
This was taken during my Senior Retreat at Multnomah at Gearheart.
