Stop speaking of the End Times.
I'm sick and tired of hearing from Christians about how the world is going to end in my generation. About how old people are surprised to find that they may live to see the end of all things. Apart from the obvious fact that Jesus specifically said specifically in Mathew 24:36 "But of that day and hour, knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but My Father only." and then goes on to say that men should not try to predict it. It only produces nihilism in young children.
I know this because it happened to me. Growing up I was constantly being told that all the signs but one had come to fruition and it was likely that the world was going to end in my lifetime. This was always said with such solemn certainty that I came to believe it myself despite knowing of Mathew 24:36. A child can only hear something so many times before they believe it.
I was also told that this would be a good thing! and it really will those who know God will go to heaven. So in the meantime we need to work to convert as many people as possible before it happens.
But this is a wrong a perverted message. I was a child I didn't understand how to save people, and felt useless to do so. My parents would constantly scream at each other and me. If I was powerless to get them to behave as proper Christians should than what could I do for others? Even if God told me exactly what I had to do I felt to tired and depressed to do it. The world was going to end regardless of what I did.
At ten years old I had to grapple with the idea that no matter what I did. The world would end, there would be wars, and turmoil, and suffering. And I begged God to just let me live a normal life, over and over and over I pleaded with him to postpone the end times so that I might live a normal life and die. I didn't expect my life to be free of conflict but I just wanted a chance to live a life like those before me had. Eventually I lost hope. I came to the conclusion that a swift death would be better, but I couldn't bring myself to end my own life. I knew that ending it would only result in more turmoil for those around me and couldn't cause myself to sin in this way. And believe me I justified many other sins.
And so I lived in a state of Nihilism throughout my teens, I would do what God told me to as it hurt not to. But I found it impossible to take any joy in my work. Why should I? the world is just going to end and heaven is perfect. This led to extreme depression that lasted for years. Now this is a good example of why many people turn to atheism. Surely after all a loving God would not allow such suffering. Its much easier to think that if the world ends it will only be because of the actions of those more selfish humans that pollute the earth. And with this thought one can take refuge in the pleasures of the world, things that are sinful alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, miss use of sex.
You might ask why I never turned to these thoughts. Well the fact is that I knew God. I could feel him working in my life and he had answered some genuinely selfish prayers. I had tested him, knowing that I was not supposed to and in my agonized state he had answered.
This made it even harder for me. I could not turn to sin to comfort myself, I was stuck knowing that everything was downhill. Now I had some other issues that have taken priority when it comes to addressing them and I've gotten happier over all. Mainly because I know that God loves me and wants me to take joy in things. So in order to address my other problems I put these thoughts on the back-burner. But now I can finally confront them.
The Church justify this intense focus on the end of times with the story of the bride-groom. Mathew 25: 1-13. Speaking about how we must be ever vigilant for the return of Christ. But instead of teaching us how we should prepare our extra oil for our lamps they only tell us what will happen if we don't. This leads to a third type of bride those who prepared extra oil, those who did not out of laziness, and those who were never told how. Merely given a lamp and told to keep it. Some may be able to figure out on their own how to keep their lamps alight. But others will just sit in the dark with a cold lamp hoping they will see the light of the bridegroom when he opens his door. Darkness abounds anyway we do not know how to keep the lamp, surely we cannot be faulted for that. We know to follow those with lamps that are alight we will be pitied and let in.
But this is not the case. We are to keep our lamps, prepare oil and care for them till the bridegroom comes. We are not to give others our oil but teach by example and help by lighting the lamp as soon as the oil is prepared. But because of the way the Church speaks on this topic those of us who have not been taught fail to see the purpose in looking to others to learn. But we must after all if the world were to be hit by asteroid in an hour would you not do the things that bring you the most joy? God made us this world as a gift, he wants us to take pride and joy in our work, in our children. Because the world will come to an end, not despite it. The joy in heaven is guaranteed but it is very different life is a gift, controversy develops you into a person and God wants to know that person.
Stop sabotaging your children by telling the world will end in their lifetime! You cannot know! There have always been wars and rumors of wars! We just know about far more of it because of how connected we are by modern technology. Our great grandparents thought WW1 was the beginning of Armageddon and look where we are now!
Following Gods word, means to take care of yourself. Focus on your health and happiness. You can't pour from an empty cup. Make yourself happy, focus on the word, take pride in your work your life's work, and your family. Then listen to God, pay attention to what he is telling you to do. Do it! it will bring you joy, even if its scary. Do the things you always wanted to do take a class, learn to surf, go dancing. And throughout all of this mitigate suffering; give your tithe, give your time by volunteering. Be there for your friends and family. Call out your family on what they need to improve upon its painful and unfair to have to parent your parents but this is an imperfect world.
This is how we prepare for the end times. Suffering will always be a part of this world till the end. And it is heavily tempting to just give up especially when constantly told that the world will end anyway.
But if you would just stop, think, and tell people the truth. "We don't know when the end of times will be. There are signs but no time-frame given. Just take care of yourself and others, do your work and take joy in it and the world around you, and trust that God is love like no other. You will be ready when the time comes. Be that tomorrow or long after your death."
When the world ends does not matter, what matters is that you enjoy the life you have been gifted with. For it is the adventure on earth that prepares you for the adventure that is heaven.
