A theologian once observed how much we Americans rely on clocks. They are everywhere.

Clocks create the illusion that time goes on and on, without a beginning and without an end.

He observed that we need hourglasses. An hourglass “constantly reminds you” that “For each of us — time is running out.” With an hourglass, there is always an end before there can be another beginning.

When it comes to the end of the world, the end of time itself, there is often a certain amount of distress, anxiety, or fear, and any number of combinations of those and others.

The word “apocalypse” means “revelation.”

Apocalyptic literature exists in cultures that have, as part of their belief system, that there will be a final showdown between good and evil.

Apocalyptic literature first gets your attention through frightening images then, true to its real purpose, it offers you hope against the fear that comes when it is believed that the showdown between good and evil is actually coming.

The Scriptures for Sunday tell us the stance Christians are to take. Despite seeming to fear, we are not to fear.

It is not evil that will come at the end of time, it will be Christ.

We should be comfortable with the knowledge that time has a beginning and an end, just as do our lives.

Time might end, our bodies may die, but our joy is that, with the end of time, there will be God.

There is a story about four people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done, and Everybody was asked to do it.

Everybody was sure that Somebody would

do it.

Anybody could have done it.

Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job.

Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when, actually, Nobody asked Anybody.

Actually, the greatest Somebody of all is telling not just anybody, but you, that there is a most important job to be done. Nobody but you is being asked to do that job.

The Lord Jesus is asking nobody but you to do God’s will on earth — to love one another.

When Jesus speaks about the end times, he says that, “when you see these things happening you will know that ... He is near.”

God is there to see you through the hard times.

You and I are graced every day to live each day as if it might be our last. There is not endless time for this inner transformation to take place.

The truth of the matter is that the longer you delay the less likely it is you will ever do it. If you do not seek to enter the kingdom in the span of time given you on earth, you will not do it.

 The door to faith is always open.