It might. But then again, the world might end tomorrow. Or in a
thousand years... For me it might end tomorrow if I step too quickly
into the road.
The film suggests that the major religions have all predicted the end
of the world (in particular it is based on the Mayan calendar which
ends in 2012).
Well, actually... no. Christians first of all shares with Judaism the
promise to Noah (remember the rainbow) ' Never again will the
floodwaters destroy all life' (not even floodwaters smothering the
Himalayas!) (Genesis 9:15). This world is important to God - he cares
for it and loves it.
But don't Christians believe that Jesus is coming again? Yes, we do.
But he comes to make a New Heaven and a New Earth. Yes, the old things
will pass away, but not in a deluge of horrific destruction. Rather,
it will be like childbirth. Nothing will ever be the same again. It
will be like having a baby. The joy of the new will more than outweigh
what is lost. Ushered in will be a world with no pain or suffering
(Revelation 21, often read at funerals)
What will be destroyed is evil, wrong and death. Which is what the
Prisoners of War in the 2nd World War longed for.
Christmas is a taste of the end of the world. For those involved in
the Christmas story, everything was turned upside down. For Mary,
Joseph - life was never the same again. And as Jesus went around
offering forgiveness, healing the sick, and challenging all that was
wrong, this was what everyone had dreamed of, longed for, but couldn't
quite believe would happen.
So, will the end of the world be like Christmas everyday? Well, yes
and no. Yes: in that Christmas is probably the best way we can thing
about it. But no: for it will be far more wonderful, as God showers us
with his love and sweeps all wrong away.
Forget 2012! Christmas is far more amazing. "I wish it could be
Christmas everyday', goes the song. And one day, it will.
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