BE ALERT. 1st Peter 4:7 Believers in Christ know He promised to return for them, and God's future plans will be fulfilled as prophesied. Since our Lord made the promise, Christians have been expecting His coming in their time. "The end" is not far off in God's purposes. The salvation of sinners is one of the purposes of the saints' suffering. God's plans are unfolding in our time, and that is true of every generation of believers. Awareness of Christ's imminent return keeps believers ready to meet Him. Love for others and for God presses us to be sober (self-controlled) and prayerful.
It is likely that Peter was thinking beyond the rapture of Christ and the millennium to the time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth, “where righteousness dwells.” “The end of all things” introduces the first of a series of admonitions: Be serious and watchful in your prayers. Divine judgment may not be as far away as you think. We know that “He that shall come will come and will not tarry.” When the first part of the Lord’s promised return occurs, the events that have been prophesied will unfold in rapid succession. For our admonition, we should not be lax or careless in our conduct, service to the Lord, and way of life. Instead, we should be serious and watchful in prayer. Our communication with God needs to be a vital part of our daily lives because the world is changing so quickly.
If we maintain fervent love for one another and ensure that our relationship with God is a vital part of our lives, we will be ready for whatever comes our way and for the Lord to come and take us home to heaven. Anticipating the Lord’s coming influences our attitude toward God and His people and guides and controls our daily living and conduct.
Our relationships with God and others will be carefully nurtured in spiritual ways when we are alert and sober-minded each day. When we are conscious of who we are in Christ, whom we represent and serve, and of the brevity of life and the length of eternity, we will be clear-minded and self- controlled. The end: the goal of God’s purpose in salvation, beginning with the return of Christ, is His plan unfolding rapidly before us. This motivates our Christian living and promotes clear thinking so that we may be effective in prayer.
Clear, controlled thinking is needed when we pray, so that we know when what we prayed for has been answered. We need to be serious and sane, and to correctly evaluate situations that arise and require action on our part. Watchful means careful consideration and full control over our thoughts, emotions, decisions, and actions. We should never let our fellowship with God be disturbed by the changing circumstances around us.
Mocking voices rise as money-makers hasten to add to their accumulated horde. Even more, they are unwilling to face what plain common sense says: “The end is near!” Loud laughter grows louder as revelers party. Dancing feet and bodies seem frenzied, and the music deafens normal hearing, drowning out the message “The end is near!” Slumped over a bar, empty glasses give evidence of the fact. Darkness and despair come from slurred words. Fear of the past, disappointment in the present, fear of the future. “The end is near!”
The older folks watch the younger with sad eyes. Gray heads shake in disbelief at the rejection of morals, standards, honor, and respect – “The end is near!” Behind closed doors, the leaders gasp in disbelief, now realizing there is no real solution. We passed the point of no return long ago – “The end is near!” Preachers warn the public to prepare for even worse times. In private conversations, Christians wonder – and pray. The pages of the Bible have made it plain to those who read – “The end is near!”