Earnest Love at the End of the Age

"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:7-8

The other day I read these words during my morning devotions and was struck by the connection between verses 7 and 8. When I’m engaged in morning devotions, I know I can’t answer every textual question that comes to mind; I am looking to feed my soul with reminders of God’s character, His work (past, present and future), my identity in light of all He is and has done, and how I’m called to live in response.

So for the time being (both in my devotions that morning, and in this blog post), I’m going to pass over the question that could be reflected on, of what exactly Peter means by saying that the end of all things is at hand. Instead, what struck me when I read was that the contemplation of the end of all things should compel us to love one another earnestly.

As I turned these words into prayer, I sensed the Spirit pressing upon me the question: “If you knew you were going to see Jesus face to face tonight (since, after all, the end of all things is at hand), how would that shape the way you love today?”

While the text is referring to love for one another (i.e., the Church), my first thought was with regard to my wife and children. I’ll tell you that there were a lot more hugs and little kisses on the cheek that day. There were more “I love you’s” than on a typical day. Thinking about the end of all things – seeing Jesus, giving an account for how I stewarded these wonderful gifts of wife and children He’d entrusted to me – made me much more patient amidst the little nuisances of a given day that tend to irritate me and work against my earnest love.

A bad night of sleep just doesn’t seem so significant when I’m pondering an encounter with the crucified and risen King of kings and Lord of lords, which could happen at any time. The temptation to speak a harsh word to one of my children after an act of disobedience is subdued as I contemplate physically meeting the One who was slaughtered so that I could enjoy eternal life and blessing. And I’m freed, in love, to cover a multitude of sins, as the Lord has covered mine.

So, brothers and sisters, ask yourselves this question today: if you knew you were going to see Jesus face to face tonight, how would you love today? The end of all things is at hand, so do it! Love one another earnestly; not tepidly, half-heartedly, weakly, begrudgingly. Love earnestly. Is there someone you can encourage? Someone you need to forgive? Someone you need to confess a sin to? Someone whose burden you can bear? Soneone you need to share the gospel with?

Don’t wait until tomorrow to love. The end of all things is at hand; so love one another earnestly, today.