Well, this morning, I invite you to take your Bibles and turn with me to 1 Peter 4. 1 Peter 4. And looking to verse 7 of 1 Peter 4, I want to preach a message I've entitled, The Right Way to Live in Light of the End. The Right Way to Live in Light of the End. And to set what we read in verse 7 in its context, I want to begin reading in verse number 1. 1 Peter 4, verse 1. For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. For he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have brought the will of the Gentiles when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries, wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you. who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. And here's our text, verse seven. But the end of all things is at hand. Be therefore sober and watch unto prayer. Now setting the words of verse seven into two main points of consideration, I want us to examine first, Peter's promised announcement, and second, Peter's pastoral appeal. First, Peter's promised announcement, and then second, Peter's pastoral appeal. And looking to the first half of the verse, we find Peter's promised announcement. Writing to God's people who have been driven out of their land by persecution and scattered throughout the ancient world, Peter says, the end of all things is at hand. And before we proceed any further, I want to try to make sense of what Peter means when he says the end of all things are at hand. Now naturally, I think most of us are inclined to interpret Peter's announcement as it relates to Christ's second coming. And we are inclined to interpret what Peter says in light of Christ's second coming because most references given by Christ and his disciples regarding the end are in connection with Christ's coming as a thief in the night. Most references of Christ, speaking of end times, are associated with him saving his children from the fierce judgment that he will bring upon the world. It's Jesus who said in Matthew 24, 14, that the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come. And as far as Peter knew, the gospel has spread from Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the world at the time that he wrote 1 Peter. So as he's writing this, he is under the impression that the gospel has fulfilled its purpose in being spread around the world and thus Christ can return at any moment. Paul in Philippians chapter four, verse five says that the Lord is at hand. James in James chapter five encourages his readers to be patient and strengthen their hearts because the coming of the Lord is near. And then John in 1 John 2 verse 18 says, little children, it is the last time, as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now, are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time. So over and over and over, we have repeated declarations demonstrating that Christ's return is near, which means that the end of all things is at hand. While I do not disaffirm the fact that this is what Peter is referencing here in our text, I do think it is needful for us to consider two additional implications that may be alluded to within the announcement that Peter gives here in verse 7, that the end of all things is at hand. For instance, Some commentators are of the persuasion that Peter's reference to the end of all things being at hand speaks of the literal destruction that will come upon Jerusalem by the Romans. Some are of the persuasion that when Peter says the end of all things is at hand, that he is alluding to the end of the Jewish economy. Because the Romans are coming. And when the Romans come, it will be the end of their city. It will be the end of their nation. And it will be the end of everything as they know it. And this viewpoint fits perfectly with what we know regarding Jerusalem's destruction in A.D. 70, when Titus the Roman general led a siege upon Jerusalem. In a very real way, the heart of Jewish religious, political, and cultural life was destroyed. And when it was destroyed, it inevitably would cause others who claim to be followers of God to wonder if they were going to be destroyed next by the Romans. So that being said, it would not be wrong to interpret Peter's words as a warning of things that would soon come to God's people as a whole. It would not be wrong to interpret Peter's announcement in the light of their current persecutions and the persecutions that will soon come upon them by the Romans. The end of all things is at hand. He's writing to these people scattered abroad, their world as they knew it is coming to an end. And then a third possible implication of Peter's announcement is the fact that due to their present persecutions and their trying circumstances, some of them were not going to live much longer. So in this sense, the end of all things is at hand. And surely this third interpretive viewpoint holds weight. Look, Peter is writing as a dying man to dying men. He is ministering the gospel on the brink of eternity and he's warning those that he is addressing that death is coming. None of us have the promise of tomorrow. Life is a vapor, it appears for a little time and then it vanishes away. So whether or not Christ is visibly going to return in your lifetime, we don't know. But we do know that in death, Christ comes for his people. And when Christ comes for his people, the end of all things comes to an end. So I'm personally inclined to interpret Peter's words in all three perspectives. Peter is saying, Listen, some of you are going to hear and perhaps see all things come to an end in your nation. Some of you are not going to make it past another week. You're not going to make it past another month. You are not going to see your next birthday. So for you, the end of all things, is at hand. And then Peter is likewise saying, now for all of you, you need to live in anticipation that at any moment Christ will return in which all things will inevitably come to an end. So be ready, wake up, live in the light of that end. Now question. Can Christians who are scattered all over the world today relate to all three categories? Can they not relate to each and every point of interpretation? Well, let's look at it. Those of us who live in the United States, watching our nation implode spiritually before our very eyes. Those of us who hear rumors of war on television each and every day, those of us who are watching China and Russia build up their military muscle, do we not see that it is very likely that the end of all things is at hand? And how about those Christians living in Muslim nations as we speak? Can we not warn them from this text that it is very likely if they remain faithful to the cause of Christ that the end of their life is at hand? Those who convert to Christianity from Islam are severely persecuted and martyred. The end of all things is at hand. And then all Christians everywhere, it makes no difference to their age, their race, their gender, their social status, their education, all Christians everywhere must be warned that their day of death is soon approaching. While they may be persuaded to think that they have many more years to live, they are foolish to ignore the fact that at any moment, their heart may go out. At any moment, they may be killed in an automobile accident. At any moment, they may be the victim of a murder. At any moment, cancer may destroy their bodies. You see, no matter what specific way you choose to interpret Peter's opening statement, you and I cannot deny the fact that with every day that passes, we are moving closer and closer to the end of all things. So here we find first that God would have us to live in the light of life's brevity. God would have us to be conscious of the fact that Christ can come back at any moment. God would have us to recognize that our obituary may be written next week. Listen, church, it's high time that we allow this truth to grip our hearts. I know we live in a day where death is hidden from our eyes for the most part. I know we live in a day that lives for the here and now. I know that there are scoffers who say, where is the promise of Christ coming? I know that we think that we are invincible. I know that we think that we all are going to enjoy retirement years. We're all going to grow old until we're 100 years of age, but we must, we must, we must come to understand that our world could be thrown into a tailspin at any moment. Death could swallow us up tonight. And Christ. Could return within the hour. Listen, you know, and I know. that if Christians during the days of the apostles expected Christ to return in their lifetime, then this means that we are living in the 11th hour of history. And everything we see around us seems to be highlighting this truth for us. Everything we read about in the Bible regarding the end times describes our world today. Everything that we hear unfolding on the world stage points to the fact that the end of all things is at hand. So we need not only to humbly recognize this truth, we need to live in a certain way in the light of this truth. And this then leads us to our second main point of consideration, which is Peter's pastoral appeal. Having set forth his pronouncement in the first half of the verse, in the second half of the verse, Peter begins to preach. He begins to exhort believers to live in a certain way in light of the end, in light of their death, in light of everything turning upside down on its head. And here we see once again that God's people are not merely to be hearers of God's word, God's people are to be doers of God's word. Here we find the biblical model of doctrine that ought to produce duty. In the seventh verse of 1 Peter 4, we find the proper way for preachers to preach and for God's people to read their Bibles. Notice it, preachers ought to preach to declare things that are true and then they ought to encourage others to live in the light of what is true. So the focus is not your head, the focus is your heart and your heart being inflamed with truth so that you will live for Christ. And then Christians ought to go to their Bibles with a desire to know and believe what God has said, but that alone is not sufficient. Christians are to go to their Bibles to put into practice what they have come to believe. Do you see that? Peter is teaching us that our beliefs ought to affect our behavior. He is teaching us that the Bible has not been given merely for our information, the Bible has been given for our transformation. Peter says, the end of all things is at hand, therefore you ought to live in a certain way. The end of all things is at hand, therefore you ought to put certain things into practice. He first gives the declaration and then he gives the application. And in so many words, Peter is saying, if you truly believe that the end of all things are at hand, don't say it with your lips. Show it with your life. And I'm so glad Peter makes this correlation because I fear that far too many Christians don't truly believe that the end is near. Oh, don't get me wrong, they say that they believe. They come to church and amen the preacher when he declares that Jesus Christ is coming soon, but you can tell by looking at their life that they really don't believe that to be true. You see, if you truly want to know what a person believes, don't listen to what they say, watch how they live. Are you with me? A person who does not believe the end is near will live however they want. A person who does not believe that Christ's return is imminent will remain apathetic towards the things of God. A person who believes Bible truths only in an intellectual sense will not be moved to change his behavior or ways. But on the contrary, The person who is thoroughly convinced that what we read in the Bible is true, they will not only tremble at the truths of God's word, they will do everything they can to yield their entire life to its teachings. You see, the Bible is a practical book. The Bible is a prodding book. It's a personal book, it's a commanding book, which means that the preaching of God's word is to include elements of reproof, rebuke, correction, and instruction. So Peter says, listen Christians, hard times are here, and I hate to break it to you, but hard times are coming. The end of all things is at hand. The day of your death is near. Christ can come back at any moment. So in light of this, you need to do two things. And your ears should now be tuned into the text. But what is it, Peter? Tell us. We want to be ready for the appearing of the Lord. We want to be found faithful when he comes. We want to be found doing the will of God from the heart diligently at our day of death. Peter, what is it? Peter says you need to live soberly and you need to watch under prayer. Two feet, two steps, two simple things to apply. Peter doesn't give us a thousand things to focus on, he gives us two things to focus on. And I love how unified and timeless the Bible is in its message. I love how it speaks directly to our specific temptations and our most pressing needs. In the first exhortation, Peter is urging God's people to be a people of spiritual sobriety and seriousness. And in the second exhortation, Peter is urging God's people to be a people of spiritual alertness and activity. Don't lose me here. When Peter calls on the Christian community to be sober, He is calling on them to be sincere and earnest in seeking first the kingdom of God, as opposed to being intoxicated with the things of this life. The reference here is not alone speaking of being drunk with alcohol, and the Bible has much to say about that. This specific reference here is about being drunk with the cares of this life that will distract you from following God. Can I pause here for a moment and say that there are far too many people who claim the name of Christ who are perpetually drunk with things that are physical and temporal. Far too many Christians are casual about the Word of God. Far too many Christians are flippant about the work of God. Far too many Christians are trivial about holy things. Far too many Christians are more concerned about their jobs, their families, politics, video games. and the stupid things that are being posted on TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube than they are about worshiping and serving the Lord. Far too many Christians are wandering around the world aimlessly laying up treasures on earth when they should be laying up treasures in heaven. Why? Because they are drunk. They don't see things clearly. They're drinking down iniquity like water, and it's causing them to stumble like a fool. You've seen people like this, no? I know we point our fingers at the drunks, filling their bodies with intoxicating alcohol, but it's time to point our fingers at those who are drunk with the cares of this life. And in their drunkenness, they've cast away, putting their hands to the plow and focusing on running their race with perseverance. Come on, help me out here. This is exactly what Peter is calling us out of. Peter is calling us out of distraction. He's calling us out of slothfulness. He's calling us out of spiritual carelessness, and he's calling us to action. He's calling on us to be sober-minded. He's calling on us to have a serious disposition as it relates to the spiritual war that we are in. These are warring words. Be sober. You're in a battle. You're in a fight. You have an enemy. You're not going to be victorious in the fight if you are tipsy, if you are intoxicated. if your focus is given to somewhere else. So wake up, be sober-minded, be alert. And then notice in the second part of the exhortation, Peter says, the end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer. Watch unto prayer. Now, I find it interesting that of all things that Peter could have said, he says that it is needful for the believer to watch unto prayer. Prayer? What's prayer? Well, true prayer at its very essence is the turning away from yourself and the turning to God. Biblical prayer is nothing more than recognizing that without God, you can do nothing. Prayer is the recognition that you are weak and without God's help, without God's intervention, you will fall and fail. Prayer is the calling out for God's divine enablement. You see, prayer is more than just the articulation of words. Prayer is more than just the repeating of heartless phrases. Prayer involves the casting of our souls upon God. How then should we live in light of the end? Cast yourself upon God. When? Always. Continually. Why? Because you have an enemy who hates you. You have a world that wants to distract you and you have a flesh that rears its ugly head and wants to do everything it can to slow you down. And I can't help but think that as Peter's writing this exhortation to believers, in his mind, he's drawn to what he has heard Christ say in Luke chapter 21 and what he experienced in the garden. Jesus told his disciples just prior to his arrest in the garden. Let me read it to you. Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, that sinful indulgence, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that they come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Jesus continues by saying, watch ye therefore and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man. You see, Jesus preached these same words that Peter is preaching to his men, to his disciples, just prior to Judas' betrayal and Jesus' arrest. Peter is echoing the same sermon he himself heard Jesus Christ, the greatest preacher, preach before the whole commotion of men coming to take him. And do you happen to remember what took place in the garden, and specifically as it relates to Peter? Remember, Jesus told Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, the inner three, to watch and pray. Do you remember? As Jesus' soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, as Jesus was asking God the Father for strength to endure all things that would transpire in His betrayal and crucifixion, Peter and the disciples fell asleep. Do you remember? Jesus came to Peter, not once, Not twice, but three times, as is usual for Peter, urging him to watch and pray because the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Jesus came back and back and back again, wanting Peter to understand, Peter, the enemy wants to sift you as wheat. Stay awake. And yet Peter's eyes, the Bible says, was heavy with sleep. Remember? Watch and pray, Peter. Yes, Master. Watch and pray, Peter. Yeah, I'm with you. Watch and pray, Peter. What? Huh? And Jesus says, Sleep on. Sleep on. Do you know what happened after that? At once, Judas came with those who would take Christ. And what do we find Peter doing? We find Peter taking out his sword and trying to take matters into his own hands. Immediately, Peter was caught off guard. He was drunk. with himself, with his ease. And he tried to kill the servant of the high priest. And shortly thereafter, we read Peter denying Christ three times exactly like Jesus told him. What happened? Here's what happened. He fell asleep, not only physically, but spiritually. He was dazed and confused, not ready. He was taken down by the enemy. His neglect of watching and praying caused him to focus on that which is physical more than that which is spiritual. Put up your sword, Peter. This battle is not physical in nature, it's spiritual in nature. And who do you think you are, the hero to save everything? You're not watching and praying. But we might say, well, Peter was tired. I mean, come on, give him a little bit of a break. He's been following the Lord for three years. You know, when you go to college and get all that information, your mind is just like mush. He's been studying doctrine. He's been traveling throughout Israel. He's been casting out demons and preaching in Christ's name. I mean, give him a little break. He's tired. Even so in his tiredness. He let his guard down. So Peter is telling Christians in 1 Peter chapter four, Christians, learn from my mistake. Take it from me when I say you need to watch unto prayer. I know what I'm talking about. The enemy is real. The battle is fierce, and it's in such times that we fail to watch and pray that we will be attacked by the one who wants to destroy us. Are you listening? I hate to say it, but that which Jesus and Peter say are the most needful practices of the Christian life have become the most neglected practices of the Christian life. I fear that prayer in the life of the believer and in the life of the church is often pushed to the back burner and replaced with anything and everything else. Hear me out. God's house should be called a house of prayer, but we've turned it into a place of fun and amusement. God's people ought to be a people of prayer, but God's people are far too busy looking at their phones that they don't have time to pray. God's ministers are to be those who give themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word, but they're too busy arranging social events and potlucks for the church more than seeking the face of God. Help me out, where are those who come on the prayer meetings Wednesday night? You call a potluck on Friday night, we will pack this place 100 plus. You call a prayer meeting Wednesday night, oh, I'm busy. Come on. Listen, church, I personally believe that the end of all things is at hand. I personally believe that some of you will not make it past this year. I personally believe Christ could come back at any moment. But sadly, I personally believe that many of you are sleeping. You've been lured into a spirit of spiritual slumberness by the devil, a spirit of spiritual slothfulness. And if you don't awake to your sleepiness, you're going to be caught off guard. You're going to lose opportunities to live for Christ and you will die with great regret. So my pastoral admonition is the same as Paul in Romans 13. And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep. For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 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 armor of light. You see, Paul does the same thing that Peter does. Knowing that the end of all things is at hand persuades him then to live in the light, that the end of all things is at hand. Let me ask you a question. If you knew 100% that Jesus Christ was coming tomorrow morning, how would you live today? If you knew that Christ was coming back at three o'clock this afternoon, how would you live the last two hours and 50 minutes? But you don't know. Therefore, you ought always to live in the light of his coming. If you knew that next Saturday you would drop dead, how would you live this week? Come on. Oh, but you see, pastor, statistically speaking, that's probably not going to happen. So I'm just going to carry on doing what I want to do. But let's just take, for example, next Saturday was your day of death. How would you live this week? Do it. Live that way. Would you get right with God? Would you get right with others? Would you be earnest about spiritual things? Would you carry some gospel tracts with you? Would you want to come to church tonight and worship with God's people one last time? Hey, perhaps Christ might come while we're worshiping. That would be a great place to go and be with God's people, worshiping Him as we're already practicing our worship of Him. Living in the light. of the end. And it may be that you're here this morning and you're not spiritually sleeping, but you are spiritually dead. You don't have the life of God in you. You're not concerned about the day of your death. You're not concerned about the return of Christ. You really don't care how things settle in this world. Well, if that is you this morning, my pastoral exhortation is, You've been warned. You've been warned that the end of all things is at hand. And if you die in your sins, if you die without Christ, the thought that will haunt you forever is the thought that you heard and you rejected. Christ and His grace and mercy allowed you to repent and believe the gospel for the saving of your soul and you cast it away. I think that is the most haunting thing of heaven or of hell. The most haunting thing of hell is that you will be reminded over and over and over of gospel opportunities and you will be reminded that you resisted and you resisted and you resisted and you cannot point to God not being loving and warning you, you have to stare yourself in the face and say, it's my fault. It's my fault. Don't let that be you. Don't let that be you. Today is the day of salvation. Now is the accepted time. Come to the waters, dream. Look to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. All you have to do is cry from your heart now and say, God, be merciful. To me, a sinner. And the Bible assures us that whosoever shall call out to God in desperation, seeing their unworthiness, knowing that there's nothing they can do to earn salvation, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. So what's keeping you from calling on him? The end of all things is at hand, children. You think you're going to live to 15 and 16 and 17 and 18. You're thinking you're going to live and graduate high school and go to college and start a family. You have no promise of that. You need to get right with God now before it's too late.