Closure

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:12)

“Closure” is one of the buzz words of our time. It seems that anytime someone has a difficult experience of life that they need some sort of “conclusion” or event to mark the end of their particular adversity so they can get on with their life. That is a very important issue, and often helps a person deal with the difficulty. But in many cases, there really is no true closure. Yes, life must go on, but the loss of a loved one cannot be forgotten. Even if the adversity is not a death in the family, some troubles remain with us for the rest of our lives. We can get a good measure of relief from many sources, but sometimes we “limp” for the rest of our lives like Jacob did in Genesis chapter 32 when he wrestled with the angel of the Lord too long.

Well, here we are at the end of a calendar year (and for those of you who like to get technical, at the end of a decade). Now is when we start looking back at what has happened in the last year, and thinking about the new things we are going to try to accomplish in 2011. We are looking for “closure” on 2010, and in some cases, not a moment too soon. For many people, this has been a difficult year. Some have dealt with medical issues, others have had challenges in their family, and most of us have felt at least some of the effects of the bad economy. Even for those who have had a decent 2010, we are all looking forward to a new slate and a new year.

One of these days very soon, God will give “closure” to the course of this world. I know we have been talking about that for a long time, but it only means we are getting closer. Skeptics scoff at the imminent rapture of the church and return of the Lord Jesus Christ, but Peter already told us about them: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (II Peter 3:3-4) The fulfillment of prophecy in the Bible sets our book apart from every other book in print. The overwhelming legion of fulfilled prophecies guarantees the fulfillment of those which are yet future. God has never missed. His batting average is 1.000, his quarterback rating is a perfect 158.3, he shoots an 18 every time he plays a round of golf, and he has swished every three-pointer he has ever shot.

Jesus promised: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3) Closure to our pilgrimage on this earth is certain. If it were not so, he would have told us. Whether it happens in our lifetime or in a generation to come, if your faith is in the risen Son of God, you can be sure of a glorious end. All tears will be wiped away. All wrongs will be made right. All questions will be answered.

Paul tells us that since these things are certain, we should conduct our lives in the light and not in the darkness. Jesus said that lost men love darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil. So as believers, we need to, “…walk in the light, as he is in the light.” (I John 1:7) When we were young (around 10-12), our parents would leave us at home by ourselves at times. Just as any normal kids, we could get into things we shouldn’t have pretty easily. Then when we heard the wheels of the car across the gravel of the driveway, a perfect panic would ensue. We knew we had no more than 29.3 seconds to hide the evidence. Our Heavenly Father is coming soon to take us home. Let us not be scrambling to hide the evidence of a life lived in the darkness. We will have full closure on our service for him in this life. May he find us in full faith, without reproach and blameless before him as we walk in his light.