“Are these the last days? Are these the end times?” The answer is, “Yes.” Jesus died and rose and ascended to the right hand of the Father. He will return soon, and we are one day closer today than yesterday. Peter warns his readers in 1 Peter 4:7-11, “The end of all things is at hand.” So how should we live today, with the end in view?
Peter tells us to be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of our prayers. He’s expecting us to pray, and that takes effort, self-control, and clear thinking. What do we pray for? We pray for ourselves, to live right before God as we wait for His return. We pray that others will be ready for that last day. We pray the good news of Jesus is proclaimed to the ends of the earth, and then the end will come. Maybe Peter remembers the garden when Jesus commanded him, “Stay awake, watch, and pray.” We need a clear head and right thinking as we engage in prayer.
Is anything more important than prayer? Yes, according to Peter. “ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” Your brother sins against you, insults you, ignores you; bring on the love. Love with energy, earnestly, with gusto. Maybe Peter is remembering when Jesus said to love one another. This is the second greatest commandment, and very important as we live in these end times.
And Peter wants us to, “show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Why? This is a great expression of love, to open your home and break bread with a brother in Christ, especially if he’s being a pin-head towards you!
Finally, “as each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies.” We serve others as Christ served us. He is the greatest example of a servant. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matt 20:28).” We serve by giving a cup of cold water to those in need, to wash other’s feet, to use the gifts and strength that God gives us to be the hands and feet of Christ.
These are the last days. The end of all things is at hand. But there is good news: we live each day so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belongs glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. The world here will end, and we must be ready, but God’s glory and dominion never end. We in Christ will be found in Him and live with Him eternally. Until then, we watch and pray, have self-control and clear minds, love one another, and serve with the gifts and strength God has given us. This is how the church survives in these last days.