Finish Well Series

In the 4th Ice Age move, Manny the wooly mammoth, Sid the sloth, and Diego the saber-toothed cat embark on an epic quest after a disaster sets the entire continent adrift. Meanwhile, as they fight for their lives and try to save the world, Crash and Eddie, two shallow, escapist possums, are too busy having fun to be concerned about the world's problems. In one scene, Crash and Eddie are each perched atop a tree waiting for a shifting mountain to push against the base of the tree so they can be catapulted through the air. Take a look. (Show video: The Secret to Crash and Eddie’s Happiness, Ice Age 4)

“Wait for it … wait for it,” Eddie says to Crash. Then they fly through the air, laughing, after which they crash-land on their faces at the feet of Louis the mole hog. “That was awesome!” says Eddie as they leap to their feet.

“Can I ask you guys something?” Louis asks. “How are you both so happy? Doesn't it weigh on you that the world might be ending?”

“Can I tell him our secret?” Eddie asks Crash.

Crash grants his permission, so Eddie motions for Louis and says, “Come here. Come here.” As Louis leans in, Eddie gives his secret to attaining personal happiness while the world hangs in the balance: “We're very, very stupid.”

Louis stares in disbelief and asks, “But still, you're not a teensy bit concerned, oh I don't know, say… imminent death?” Eddie simply reaches out his hand and pinches Louis's nose and says, “Beep” (Ice Age: Continental Drift, 20th Century Fox, 2012, Directed by Steve Martino, Chapter 17: 54:15 to 55:57; www.PreachingToday.com).

I guess that’s one way to face the end, but is that any better than sheer panic and the frenetic activity that goes with it?

As I look at the crazy world around us, I’ve come to the conclusion that we are very close to one of two events: the rapture of the church and/or world-wide revival. Either the Holy Spirit is coming to breathe new life into the church, or Jesus is coming to take His church out of this world, both of which may happen one right after the other.

Amir Tsarfati, an Israeli pastor, just this last week (June 16, 2021) said, “The rise of a new world leader (the anti-Christ) must happen in the wake of a lack of leadership worldwide. Netenyahu’s removal from office was a great reminder to me that Israel is part of the game. After all it’s the place for that leader’s false peace and fake temple! Christians,” he says, “please get your life in order! We may be out of here way earlier than you can even imagine. Even the explanation for our sudden disappearing (in the rapture) is being worked on right now with the alien narrative being pushed all around!” (Amir Tsarfati, Telegram Post, 1:21 a.m., June 16)

So how do you get your life in order for what may be the end of this age? How do you prepare for Christ’s coming, which the Bible says could happen at any time? You could be blissfully unaware as Crash and Eddie were, or you could work yourself into a frenzy, living in fear of the times. However, the Bible shows us a better way to face the end. If you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to 1 Peter 4, 1 Peter 4, where the Bible tells us how to face the end.

1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers (ESV).

The original readers of these words were experiencing a lot of persecution. So, to them, the end of all things seemed extremely near! At the very least, many of them expected to die very soon, because Nero was killing a lot of Christians in those days. So Peter gives them and us some very practical advice on how to end our time on this earth well. First, he says...

BE SENSIBLE AND SOBER so you can pray intelligently.

Avoid the stupidity of blissful ignorance or the frenetic activity born out of fear. Rather, “Be self-controlled and sober-minded,” vs.7 says.

Just a few years ago, Fredrik Coltin invented Tikker. It’s a wristwatch that counts down your life so you can make every second count. The Tikker allows you to watch as a dot-matrix screen displays the seconds you have left on earth as they disappear down a black hole. Your estimated time of death is, of course, just that—an estimate. Tikker uses an algorithm like the one used by the federal government to figure a person's life expectancy and then converts that into a countdown of the years, months, days, minutes, and seconds you have left on this earth. The effect is sobering, like an incessant grim reaper reminding you that time is running out.