The End of the Story

 THE END OF THE STORY – SUNDAY JUNE 1, 2025

 


Revelation 22:16-17, 20-21: 16 “It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

20 The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

➖

These are literally the last words of the Bible – the whole Bible. They are an invitation, a promise and a prayer.

The invitation comes from our own mouths. It comes from the Spirit who makes us one. It comes from the Church, the “Bride” of Christ. Everyone who hears the invitation is invited to join the chorus. “Come!” “Come!”  Those who are thirsty for hope, and truth – for Peace, respect and care – let everyone who is thirsty come, join the chorus, raise your voice, and then drink of life and love!

The invitation is yours to give. Call to the end of time. Call to pot of gold which lies at the far end of that “Arc of Justice” Martin Luther King, Jr. always spoke of. Claim the promise the invitation implies.

And the promise is just this. Yes, “I am coming soon!” says Jesus.

Name the losses, the betrayals, the demons and the death of lesser dreams. Grapple with the failures of the day and those things that drag on decency and delight. “I am coming soon!” says Jesus. Such things shall not always be. They are not the plan. Cover to cover the Bible has projected a different reality, a different way to be, a “kingdom,” community and ethic of love and sufficiency unlike anything else we’ve ever known. To have faith is to see and embrace this “different way” whenever and wherever it breaks in. To have faith is to focus on this “Bright morning star” and let it burn more brightly than any other experience or pain. And to have faith is to bring this light back into the present day and let it illuminate all that is around us. See and act with the eyes of tomorrow!

That is the Promise.

And then the prayer. “Amen! Come Lord Jesus.” We are ready. We are strong. We are hopeful. We embrace the fulfillment of the Love that is already flooding into our lives. We are, in fact, already residents of tomorrow.

Thank you, Rev. Maltbie, D. Babcock for this beautiful hymn published in 1899:

“This is my Father's world:
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.

This is my Father's world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!”

Comments

  1. GaryJune 2, 2025 at 12:45 PM

    The Bible does close in an amazing way. Thank you for this rich meditation on the final words of Scripture. This is an invitation, a promise, and a prayer woven together in hope and glory.

    The invitation is a call we are both given and charged to give. We hear a call that transcends time, denomination, and despair. "Come!" is not just a word but a movement, an echo passed down through prophets, saints, and ordinary people like us, longing for a world remade in love.

    The promise, “Yes, I am coming soon” is not just about future fulfillment, but present transformation. Christ’s return isn’t simply a date on a divine calendar, but the ongoing inbreaking of grace into our every moment of sorrow and struggle.

    And then the prayer—“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” It is not about resignation. It is about readiness. It is about resolve. It is the heartbeat of all who still believe that love is stronger than hate, that peace is more powerful than war, that God's kingdom is more than just a future hope.

    Ending the Bible with future hope based on love guides us with a vision of profound transformation.

    ReplyDelete

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