The first years of the early church are characterised by an imminent expectation of Jesus returning.  Paul encouraged people not to marry for that reason – there is just not enough time to think about family life when he believed that the whole of history was going to be wrapped up within a matter of years.

We look on things with a very different perspective, partly because twenty centuries have come and gone. Also our world view is very different – we don’t think of the universe as a three tier hierarchy.

Indeed the later parts of the New Testament reflect a change in attitude towards the second coming of Jesus.  Given that life was continuing, Christians were challenged to express the life of Christ in their worship and service, believing that the Risen Christ and God’s Holy Spirit were present and empowering them in their witness.  We continue in that belief.

As for those who look for the last times, I guess that within our generation we do need to take seriously the impact that the human race is having on the planet.  In previous generations we have had to contemplate the serious threat that the human race is to itself in relation to nuclear war.  None of these things go away. ‘Apocalyptic’ language can be used by secular commentators as well as by those of a religious persuasion.

Faith teaches us to look forward to the future with hope, not a blind optimism, but an active and engaged commitment to make real the love that we have experienced in Christ. That is enough to keep us all busy!

In faith

 David