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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Huh? (01/21/10)
The End of the World


Just this week, my 13 year old, autistic, son asked me, “Mom, did you know the world is going to end on May 21st, 2011?” This was first thing in the morning and my brain doesn’t fully engage until a good two hours after I’m forced to get up. So, having to wrap my mind around this little tidbit at that early hour was a bit of a stretch! My first thought was, “huh?” And then it was, “Could I be so lucky? “ If the world is going to end in just 16 months, I can radically change the way I’m living! I can quit taking my vitamins because I’m not going to be around to reap the benefits of them down the road. I can throw our budget out the window and run up the credit cards! I can spend my days playing games with the kids instead of trying to balance all that I feel needs to be done every day (you know, little things like cooking, home schooling, and laundry!) We can go ahead and take that cruise now and not worry about saving up the money first. I can stop worrying about our boys’ future. I can eat as much chocolate as I can stuff into my cheeks! What freedom!

But alas…I knew immediately where my son had come up with this. Being autistic, Ben has certain “rituals” and things that must happen at certain times of the day. We have a radio station that I enjoy listening to because they play hymns rather than the latest release by some worldly-looking, sullen, self-proclaimed “Christian” artist. I like that. But, unfortunately, the preaching offered up on this station is really off-base. But in recent months Ben has begun listening to this station as he drifts off to sleep at night. Even though I believe the teaching on this station is faulty, I have allowed it for Ben because it is soothing to him. To take it away would cause a huge upset and would mean sleepless nights for all of us. Now, however, I am beginning to rethink that decision…

I was able to gently draw Ben’s attention to Matthew 24:36:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father, only.”*
I pointed out to him that the Bible says only God knows the day of Jesus’ return. As such, it’s pretty silly for someone here on earth to be saying that they know, too. I think he understood - I hope so!

As I thought about this later, I felt grateful that I had an immediate answer for Ben and was able to direct him to the Scripture that addressed what he brought up. There are going to be other times that we hear somebody asserting something and our spiritual “radar” needs to be such that we immediately say, “huh?” when something doesn’t line up with what we know the Bible to say. And how do we develop this sense? There’s only one answer: by knowing God’s Word. When we read and study our Bibles, we tuck it into our minds and hearts. Only then, can we discern truth from man’s fanciful assertions. And, then, it can even be done even when we’re not fully awake yet!
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This article has been read 884 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
AnneRene' Capp
01/29/10
I like the way you portrayed the "human element" in all of us. So easy to lift our own spirits up at the hope of "easy" but brought yourself, son and the reader back to the word!
Jan Ackerson
02/01/10
I like the ironic humor in the first paragraph.

Suggestions: break your longer paragraphs into shorter chunks, and avoid exclamation points except in dialog.

Blessings on you as you seek the best for your son.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
02/02/10
I liked how you turned a rumor into a meaningful Bible lesson. Good job.
Ruth Brown
02/03/10
I liked the way the mom teaches patiently. Sometimes we just need to do those things we put off because after all we don't know the day nor the hour.Well done.
Amanda Brogan
02/06/10
A great reminder that we can never know when the Lord is returning, and that it's important to stay in the Word if we are to defend what we believe. The end paragraph is my favorite.