When candidates run for office, they develop “stump speeches” that can be used for many different places and occasions. At the peak of the Cold War when John F. Kennedy was running for the White House, people feared a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. During the presidential race, Kennedy addressed that fear by ending many of his stump speeches with a story about Colonel Davenport, the speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1789. As the story goes, one day the sky over Hartford became so dark that some of the Representatives feared it was the end of the world. Panic was developing and there was a call for immediate adjournment. Davenport stood up and said, “The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment and if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought in.”

Well, Judgment Day did not come in 1789 and it hasn’t happened yet, but the Bible makes it clear that it will come someday. We don’t know when that will be, or if it will even be in our lifetime, but we do know that along with the judgment will come a new heaven and a new earth. And that will be a glorious day. Meanwhile, we should do our duty and live lives that are pleasing to God. And then, if God’s judgment comes in our lifetime, we’ll be ready!