Jesus told his followers, “You will be hated by everyone because of me” (Matthew 10:22). So, the time between Christ’s first and second coming is going to be perilous for believers. A good example:

Martin Luther. All that priest wanted was to share the pure gospel with the world. For trying to do just that, both political and religious leaders wanted to end his life. The Festival of the Reformationemphasizes our unfailing reliance on the Word of God. We give unflinching testimony to that Word even in the face of persecution. Today we pray that the Lord would keep us steadfast in the faith.

When we gather for public worship we call it a service – even Divine Service. Do you know why? Many think of what we do on Sunday mornings as coming together mainly to worship and praise God. We gather in service of the divine. It’s about our service to him. However, while that is certainly one aspect of what we do in worship, it’s not the primary purpose of our gatherings. 

The main service that happens every Sunday morning actually goes in the other direction – from God to us. This remarkable truth completely changes the way we view “going to church” on Sunday. God himself invites sinners like us to come into his house to enjoy nothing less than divine hospitality. Every single Sunday our Savior stoops down and rolls up his sleeves to serve us. In word and sacrament he washes us in his forgiveness and feeds us with a spiritual feast for our souls. He reminds us of his great love for us, renews our hope, and provides us with the peace that goes beyond understanding. Worship is where Christ serves us.  

Imagine you are planning to take the family out to dinner. You all have to wait for someone to get ready. Minute after minute passes. What can happen in that situation? It’s easy to focus on something else and even forget the original goal. Perhaps as you wait, you even fall asleep.

As we wait for Christ to return, as day after day passes, it can be easy to get distracted, to lose vigilance, to become spiritually drowsy. It’s the beginning of the end. Why does it have to take so long? God forbid that Christ should return and find us spiritually asleep. Today we are reminded that the time between Christ’s first and second coming is a time for watchfulness.

When you know that your death is approaching, you try to put your affairs in order for the sake of others. When you know that the second coming of Christ is approaching, what is the appropriate response? We are not to be sedentary. 

Jesus has not yet returned because there is still work to be done. And Jesus carries out his good work through us. So until he comes again and says, “Stop!” we will be busy with faithful service. It’s the beginning of the end, and we use our gifts and talents in an orderly way for God’s glory.

Consider the Christian man whose body aches from both cancer and chemo. Or the Christian woman whose back is arched by time and whose fingers are twisted by arthritis. They may pray for death, hoping for something better. But their hope is not a prayerful wish. It is an expectation of the end of sorrow and pain and the beginning of a perfect eternity with Jesus.

We have come to the end of the Church Year. It is time to talk about the end of the world on judgment day. That day does not scare the believer. The first time Christ came, he saved us from our sin and the accusations of the devil. The second time he comes, he will save us from everything else. It will be the best! Disease, abuse, heartache, even death—all gone. We will exist forever with the Lord Jesus. Now is the beginning of the end. We yearn for Christ to come again and usher us into the best possible life of everlasting glory.