I try and be a planner. Do my best to manage my calendar and not have my calendar manage me. Try and know what’s coming and arrange my “to do’s” appropriately. But it never seems to fail that, at some point during what is always a really busy Fall season leading into an even busier Christmas season, I feel like my legs aren’t keeping up with the treadmill I seem to be on. Oh, my legs are still under me, but sometimes it seems like I’m just barely keeping up. But this too shall pass. In January?

Regardless, keeping in mind what’s coming next should be helpful in determining what should be done now. True of our daily, weekly, and monthly calendars. True, Peter reminds me this morning, of eternity.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness . . .

(2Peter 3:10-11 ESV)

A friend and I were talking yesterday about the differing views of how the end times will play out. Our discussion though wasn’t centered on debating how all the prophetic events will play out, or, depending on your view, have already played out. Rather, it was on the behavioral implications of holding to any particular eschatological view. And as I’m hovering over 2Peter this morning, it really comes down to the one big event all views include in their calendar, and the big question it demands.

The day of the Lord will come. What sort of people ought we to be?

Is it too simplistic to think that’s what it boils down to? That the one event we can all mark on our calendars, both our prophetic and personal calendars, is that the Lord Jesus will return. And that He will come as thief in the night (1Th. 5:2). Unexpectedly. When most are asleep–perhaps physically, but, as is becoming more and more common, even among His people, their slumber may be more of a spiritual snoozing at the wheel. Thus, perhaps we should have a recurring reminder in our Google calendars, or on our phone calendar app, that pops up regularly reminding us “Jesus’s return . . . Imminent!” Count on it!

And if we know it’s coming . . . and could come at any time . . . perhaps today . . . then, says Peter, we should be preparing appropriately by noodling from time to time on the big question it presents.

What sort of people ought we to be?

Lives of holiness. Lives of godliness. How does that play out for me in the routines of life?

Waiting for the day while hastening the day (3:12). So, what do I do today?

Answers may differ in the details depending on our season of life, our occupational calling, our Spirit-directed area service for the kingdom, and our Spirit-infused gifting. But if we want to keep from nodding off and be ready for that day, shouldn’t we be reminding ourselves periodically that Jesus is coming soon and very soon? And shouldn’t we be frequently asking ourselves the big question–what sort of person ought I to be? And shouldn’t we be praying without ceasing for the power and enabling of the gospel to live in light of the answers to our question?

I’m thinkin’ . . .

Because of grace. For His glory.