Eschatology and the Christian: What to make of it

   There have been very few issues that have sparked as much fiery debate among the Christian community as Eschatology, the study of 'end times'.  There have been so many different views of the end times all throughout Church history that I do not even know where to begin.
   So, when discussing as debated of an issue as eschatology, the question is 'how could I go about this discussion without getting someone mad'?  It's quite simple actually - by not dogmatically endorsing whatever end-times view I hold to and refuting the end-times views I disagree with.
    What does the Word of God promise? But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)  This is, for the most part, not disputed among Christians, except possibly by a few extreme Preterists who would have this refer to the destruction of Jerusalem rather than the Coming of Christ.
   What else does God promise? That there will be a day of judgment in which God renders every man according to his deeds (Romans 2:6) and judges everyone based on their obedience to the gospel (2 Thess. 1:8).  Those who are Christ's, will not perish, but inherit eternal life (John 3:16), but those who do not believe on Christ will spend eternity in hell (John 3:36).  This is also generally not disputed within the realms of orthodox Christianity, except by the adherents of Universalism (who teach all will be saved) and the adherents of Pluralism (who teach that there are many roads to God).
   What are the implications of eschatology? What does the coming of Christ have to do with our daily life?  Everything.   We live in expectation of that day. That will be the day when God avenges His saints and puts an end to all sorrow, pain, and death.                 
     Although we are now saved by grace, the Bible does repeatedly talk about being rewarded according to our works.  
   Consider, for example, 1 Corinthians 3:9-15:
  "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
¹⁰ According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
¹¹ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
¹² Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
¹³ Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
¹⁴ If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
¹⁵ If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
   These verses are very interesting.  Paul makes it very clear that our works will be judged, but at the same time he does not fail to emphasize the fact that this judgment has no bearing on our salvation (v. 15).  
   The end of the world is not a mere fantasy, it is a reality. It is a reality which has a direct bearing on practically everything we do in this life.  This is perhaps one of the reasons we see it said in Colossians 3:17 "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
  2 Peter 3:11-14, speaking in the context of the day of the Lord, says this:
  "11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
¹² Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
¹³ Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."
    It seems that a lot of discussion revolving around end-times theology misses the point - that we are to live in expectation of that day, following after peace and holiness, and serving the Lord with our all.   I cannot claim a perfect understanding of what will happen in the end, but I do know what God commands of me now. 
   Some may ask why the Lord has delayed His coming so long.  But when we look around us we see that there is still work to be done.  Christ will comes when He comes, so let us in the mean time focus on advancing His kingdom and bringing more people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Let's focus on doing what He commands here and now, rather than trying to predict what He will do in the future.  
   Remember, up to the Coming of Christ, the Jews had a lot of ideas of how the Messiah would come.  And guess what?  They were all wrong.  
  Is the study of the end-times wrong?  No - but let us stick to what we know from God's word, and not miss the point.