Dan 12:1-3; Heb 10:11-14, 18; Mk13:24-32
There are numerous predictions about the end of the world. The French "prophet" and astrologer Nostradamus (1503-1566), foretold that the world would end when Easter fell on April 25. This happened in 1666, 1734, 1886 and 1943. In 1379, St. Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419), a Spanish
Dominican monk predicted the demise of the world in AD 3936. The Jehovah's Witnesses predicted the "end of the world” in 1914, 1918 and 1974. Many more such predictions we had seen. They were trying to base their predictions on the invitation of Jesus to be watchful.Death is the
unquestionable reality in our life. But no one can predict his death. Alexander
Pope put this poetically:
"Heav'n from all creatures hides the book of Fate,
All but the
page prescribed."
Death
comes sometimes in a very unexpected manner.
Atilla was the
fearsome ruler of the Huns from 434 to 453 AD. He was public enemy to the
Roman Empire. Twice he attacked the Balkans; he marched his army through
France; and his rulership spread from Germany to the Ural River and from the
Danube River to the Baltic Sea. Many today regard him as a monster, a cruel
dictator who ruled through fear. His death was really mysterious. He died on
his wedding night from a simple nose bleed.
Bruce Lee's
son Brandon was on the set of the film The Crow in which he was playing
the lead role. One scene required Lee to be shot by a prop-gun firing blanks.
The gun had been used several times before in filming but a cheaply made round
of blanks had lodged part of the lead in the barrel of the gun. It caused his
death.
Jesus said:
"But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it." Hence he asks us to
be prepared. None
of us are guaranteed our next breath. We should always appreciate and
acknowledge our blessings. An attitude of gratitude is a stepping-stone towards
success. Our thoughts, our words, and our actions must be building blocks
to creating the life that you want. But in reality, we do not dare to act. We
wait for something. Dr. Seuss put
it humorously (Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer, poet, and
cartoonist most widely known for his children's books written under the pen
names Dr. Seuss).
"Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to
fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their
Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair
of pants or a wig with curls or another chance." Everyone is just
waiting." We have heard many times the line, "Live
everyday as if it were your last" It is high time that we started doing
something meaningful in life. So let us find our passion. Passion isn't just a
hobby or a pastime. It's a kind of love that burns so deep it sets you alive.
Passion allows you to feel that everything is right in the world. There are
many people out there who follow their heart, no matter what. And it's brought
them to great heights. So find your passion, and make your life meaningful.
When you want to pass some form of positivity and happiness to others, the
results can be amazing.
Even though we are all aware of the imminence of death, we still have
the power to dream. We can look to the future for a day when we will achieve
unrivaled greatness. Every day, we should bring us closer and closer to our
goal, every day we must bring us closer and closer to greatness. With this
mindset and decree, lives life to the fullest. Enjoy every minute of the day.
Do things that can make us happy. And always DO good things to others for we
never know how long we will stay. Life is just borrowed, so we must live
accordingly.
Satish