The letter to the Hebrews includes these words:

Now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12.27-28)

There is a lot going on! (And this list is nowhere near complete!)

• there are wars, most recently the Israel-Hamas conflict; also in Sudan and the horn of Africa.
• There are many incidents evidencing climate change; floods, extreme heat, etc.
• The worldwide impact of covid-19, which scientists expect not to be the final such pandemic. This has diminished supply chains across the world.
• The Ukraine conflict in particular has inflated prices of basic foodstuffs for many millions.

in light of events across the world recently, I came to meditate on the words above.

I would not be so bold as to claim that what I have witnessed is the same as what Hebrews predicts. It is not ‘this is that’ (see Acts 2.16) but ‘this is like that.’ There is a shaking, ahead of ‘the’ shaking.

The shaking removes created things. It tests our trust in God and His Son and His promises. What remains may be unseen but cannot be shaken.

The kingdom we will receive will not be shaken.

Our response? – we worship and we are thankful. We press on in service and witness.

One of Jacob’s final appearances in Genesis. This is the final chapter of his life.

A man with a stick, walking with a limp (Gen 32.31). Yet the greatest king of his generation received a blessing (twice) from Jacob.

Jacob was truly a man of mixed history; inconsistent, a grasper, a deceiver – God had promised to be with him; and God had been with him. When appearing to Moses, God identified Himself as the God of Jacob (Ex 3.6). He is not ashamed to be identified with this man; see Heb 2.11. Hebrews 11 presents Jacob as a hero of faith.

Jacob was doubtless a man who was difficult to be around; he always caused conflict: in Rebekah’s womb, in Isaac’s home, in Laban’s home, in his own family. Even his sons did not get on! In Gen 45.24, when sending them to collect their father, Joseph told them not to argue!

This is no justification for us to emulate his behaviour! But the life of Jacob does show the breath of the grace of God.

The apostle Peter comments that the end of all things is near (1 Peter 4.7).

I have been a Christian for around 40 years. I claim no great maturity, but merely experience and observation. I hear some refer to an ‘end times Church.’ A google search will reveal many articles and books and sermons on this subject. Some claim that the end times Church has been hidden from the Church, implying that it is not revealed in the New Testament. Some would add that God is now revealing that mystery.

I disagree.

Whilst the Church has fallen short of its calling to a greater or lesser extent, the Bible is the sufficient revelation of what the Church should be and do in all ages. Of course, we may disagree on details, for example on the role of women, on how young a child may be baptised as a believer, etc. But the Bible remains our instruction manual.

So Peter, in declaring that the end of all things is upon us, describes what the Church should be and do in light of ‘the end.’ 1 Peter 4.7-11 reads:

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

My point is simple. Peter’s instructions match those of the apostles from the day of Pentecost. We are commanded to be alert, to be of sober mind, to love to show hospitality and to avoid grumbling. We are called to serve, in doing so to be faithful. Those who speak do so with authority. Paul’s words in Romans 12 cover the same ground.

So, it seems, the Lord’s commands to His Church remain.