A friend asked me what I thought about the “whole May 21st thing.” Here is my answer. First, here is one of my favorite scenes from the movie Miss Congeniality.

Harold Camping has predicted the Judgment day will happen May 21, 2011. To him that is the perfect date.

Here is my prediction: Jesus will not come on May 21, 2011. I could be wrong. But my record of predicting Jesus’ non-arrival is pretty stellar compared to Harold Camping’s predictions of Jesus’ Second Coming. He has been wrong before, I have not.

Okay, so when is Jesus coming back? This is what Jesus said when his disciples when they asked him a similar question: Matthew 24.3-14

Here is a quick End Times Checklist:

1. Many have come in his name? Check. People Claiming to be Jesus
2. Wars and rumors of wars? Check.
3. Nation rising against nation? Check.
4. Kingdom against kingdom? Check.
5. Famines? Check.
6. Earthquakes? Check.
7. Handed over to be persecuted and put to death? Check (not usually in the USA).
8. Hated by all nations? Check. Because of Me? Not sure.
9. People turning away from the faith, betraying and hating each other? Not for the reasons we might think.
10. Increase of wickedness? Check.
11. Love growing cold? Check.
12. The Gospel being preached in the whole world? Not yet. Unreached Peoples Groups

So where’s Jesus been? Isn’t there enough garbage in the world? Hasn’t there been enough pain and suffering in the world? I’m ready to bounce, Jesus. Take me home!

I think it’s pretty selfish.

For as long as people have wanted Jesus to come back and take them away, there have been people they were willing to leave behind.

This isn’t really about what End Times calendar we use or what theological position we hold. It is about loving the world like God loves the world.

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” 2 Peter 3.8-9.

If we are going to be Christ-like, shouldn’t we have the same compassion for all of the world? Should we be satisfied to get our salvation and leave the rest of the world in a “too bad, too sad” situation?

I think I want to be surprised by Jesus’ return. I want him to have to get my attention and tell me that my work is finished and I can enter into my rest. That’s what I want. I want to be about my Father’s business until that time. I would rather engage the world in which I live than escape it.

What about you? Do you want to escape or engage?