What to Do When the World is Ending

Well, it's May 21, but I haven't heard any reports of earthquakes in Asia yet. So, I figured doing a blog post wouldn't be a waste of my final hours. However, all this talk about the end of the world does spark a good question: If you knew the world was going to end tomorrow how would you spend that time?

An article in TIME this week invited readers to answer that question. Here are some of the answers they provided:


-I would go to a really fancy museum and touch everything
-I'd buy the most expensive bottle of scotch I could get my hands on (like $1,000) and drink it. Oh, and I'd buy a cigar to go with it
-Feel the emotions of exposing myself on public transportation
-Punch my boss
-Finally tell all those kids with the saggy pants to pull their pants up
-Bust dogs out of the shelter and gorillas out of the zoo
-Eat pies and cheese and stuff

-I'd have my girlfriend come over and just lay in bed with me wearing our finest formalwear like the elderly couple in Titanic
-Buy expensive crystal wine glasses and smash them against a wall
-I'd probably just start asking random really hot girls if they want to sleep with me
-Well, I'd definitely stop folding laundry
-Eat nothing but $2 Taco Bell meals
-Watch Party of Five on Netflix
-Challenge Michael Jordan to a one on one

From: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2072767,00.html#ixzz1N03bvDnH

It was interesting to me that most of the answers provided involved either splurging on one's self or carrying out those secret mischievous (or sinful) acts we've always wanted to do. I found this a fascinating contrast to the answer that Martin Luther provided so long ago. When contemplating what he would do if he knew the world was going to end he said that he would plant a tree. What a difference.

Perhaps the difference lies in our belief in the end. If we believe that the end of the world is  the ultimate end or if we believe that there is only heaven to look forward to, then such earthly desires for those final hours make sense. After all, you won't have another chance.

However, if we believe in the Christian hope of resurrection then what we do on this earth does matter. Our work is not in vain. When Christ does come it won't be as the destroyer of worlds but as the one who comes to redeem, resurrect, and recreate what has been lost.