Do you ever think about The End? You know, the day we take our last breath and then what? I was thinking about this today because the verse on my daily calendar quoted Matthew 24:44, “Therefore be ye also ready: For in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

I have been through Scripture classes and studies teaching about the end times of the world but, to be very honest, I do not understand it all. I am pretty sure, because there is so much discussion and dispute between theologians, that none of us quite has the answers down pat.

Because in my head the end events are not clear when I read this verse this morning I went to a good website, www.GotQuestions.org, to read their take. There was excellent biblical information to be found, but indeed the exactness of the end times are not clearly set out in black and white for us. Therefore, I will continue to trust Jesus for insight and His judgment until then. The one thing everyone does agree on is that no one knows the exact date the world will end.

I think of my dear nieces and nephews, their spouses and babies. If tomorrow were the actual end of the world, would they be with me in heaven? As of the last time I spoke to many of them, the answer was ‘No.’ We do have some strong young Christians in our family, and I pray that they will continue to have a positive impact of faith on their cousins and siblings to bring this answer to a more hopeful ‘Yes.’

My husband Neil and I are witnesses of our faith every day of our lives, but we do not see these younger relatives often enough to have an impact. Honestly, we do not even seem to have much of an impact on Neil’s own siblings in encouraging them to seek the Lord. The Lord calls it in the Bible “hardened hearts.” Isn’t that a sad term. A heart so hard that it would turn from the joy of knowing our Creator and instead seek such temporal joy as this current world can give, trading the long-term joy of knowing the Lord for the ‘man-made fun’ to be had for the instant moment.

Of course, that man-made fun is tempting to see as the ultimate goal of our lives. Easily we desire to reach the best score that can be obtained in a sport; the most drinks that can be drunk and still be standing; the biggest wave to be surfed; the highest paycheck; the latest social media craze to be accomplished, etc. But oh, what joy is found in the selfless work of the Lord. And that may be the difference – selfless or self-indulged. God never said it has to be totally one or totally the other because He gives us joy in climbing His mountains and excitement in surfing in His waters, but they are not to be our be-all and end-all.

God gives Neil and me blessings galore, we don’t seek them or accomplish anything to receive them, they are wonderful gifts our Father gives us because He loves us. In great gratitude and because God asks us to, we give ourselves to Him in all areas of our lives. When I worked I operated as if I were a missionary to lawyers – uplifting and assisting them in the legal field while praying for them personally and speaking God’s truth when appropriate.

God also walks both Neil and me through troubles and sicknesses. We have seen all of our grandparents, parents and one sibling pass on to their final eternal home. I have had a malfunctioning heart since birth and have been through numerous hospitalizations and procedures. Things happen in life that are not easy and then, more than most times, is when we receive great comfort and care from knowing how much God loves us and what our own final resting place will be – with Him in heaven.

The final goal is not how much money we acquire (or give away), it is not having the top position at the top company (although it could be part of God’s plan), the final goal is knowing in our hearts that for ever and ever we will be in the presence of God our Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit, our wonderful counselor and guide doing all that the Father has planned for us in eternity – and surely what a magnificent plan that will be!

With those thoughts, I pray that each one reading this will seek a softened heart and consider where will you and those you love be found on that last day. Are we ready?

Editor’s note: Amy Patsch writes from Ocean City. Email her at writerGoodGod@gmail.com.