I’m in Chicago, where I have been attending the 50th Anniversary Conference of the Christian Legal Society, a wonderful gathering of Christian lawyers, law students and some law faculty and deans. Last night was the gala banquet, the keynote speaker at which was Ann Graham Lotz, daughter of Billy Graham.
Lotz believes that this is the last generation – that before the end of her generation, Jesus will come again and the world as we know it will end. She spent at least forty-five minutes explaining the scriptural basis for her view – talking about Jesus’ description to his disciples in Matthew 24 of those things that will signal the end of the world, Luke 21 and a number of other passages.
The truth is that I found some of her evidence for how she thinks various signs have been fulfilled to be a bit torturous. But that is not really my point.
As she was going through her evidence, my dominant reaction was so what? Why should it matter? Let’s assume she is right – which, as I said, I don’t think is the case, but hold that aside for a moment. The real question is: if I am living the best life of discipleship I can, why should I care if the world ends in this generation or in a future generation?
After forty-five minutes of giving her evidence for why she believes this is the last generation, she talked about the fact that people are indifferent to God and God’s word. And she said that if we are approaching the end of history, there is nothing more important than to walk with God.
Whether or not she intends this, that makes is sound like the motivation for walking with God is fear about what will happen to us when Jesus comes in judgment. But no matter what age we are in, there is nothing more important than to walk with God.
I hope that our motivation for discipleship is based on love not fear – our love of God and our reaction to our apprehension of God’s unconditional love for us. And if we need any impetus for now putting off developing our relationshp with God and living lives of intentional discipleship, contempating the limited span of our own lives ought to be enough for that, without hazarding guesses about the end of the whole world.
Of course, is it not just about us. Our discipleship includes concern, not only for our own salvation, but for that of our brothers and sisters. And I don’t disagree with Lotz that there is a lot of indifference to God and God’s Word in the world. But the way to help people overcome that indifference is not to try to convince them that the world is ending so they better watch out or they will be judged harshly, but to help them get in touch with God’s love for them.
And that love is the same in all generations.
Well said. Glad I didn’t stay. We took off about 5:30 and made it back before 1am.
I agree with Ann. In Luke 21 the disciples asked Jesus when the temple would be destroyed. Jesus told them in v. 32 that the generation they were living in would not pass before it happened. They asked for sign to know when it was near. Jesus also responded by telling them when they saw the Roman armies coming to flee the city. In verse 24 he also gave the last generation a sign they could know the end was near. Compare to Matt. 24:14. This would increase motivation to holiness and witness and prayer. Why would Jesus tell His generation they were the last generation of Jews? When you answer that you will answer why He wants us to know this is the last generation. It gives urgency and passion to our witness. It keeps us from going worldly. It keeps us focused. It fills us full of joy that He is coming so soon. It breathes hope in a despairing world that is on the verge of financial and moral collapse. It helps me to know who to associate with as Christians. We’re told in Hebrews 10:25 that we should be able to see the Day approaching and not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Jesus said that we are to use this insider knowledge to “watch and pray continually”. That is what knowing this is the last generation is doing for me. It’s motivativing me to keep my garments clean (Rev. 16:13-26) and to stay awake. I’m not living for retirement but for the Day of the Lord. Maranatha.